Alamo TrustThe four-pound cannonball that was recently found at the Alamo.During excavations at the Alamo the location of the historic 1836 battle that inspired the famous cry Remember the Alamo! archaeologists turned up a relic from the sites storied past. While digging just outside the Alamo Church in San Antonio, Texas, researchers uncovered a well-preserved 190-year-old cannonball.Archaeologists believe that the cannonball was used during the Battle of the Alamo, or perhaps during the 12-day siege that preceded it. As such, its a remarkable artifact from one of American historys most famous battles.The 190-Year-Old Cannonball Found At The AlamoAccording to a statement from the Alamo Trust, the cannonball was discovered on March 5, 2026, one day before the 190th anniversary of the Battle of the Alamo, which took place on March 6, 1836. Archaeologists found the relic three feet below ground while excavating an area near the Alamo Church.Library of CongressThe Alamo Church, one of the only structures from the original Alamo thats still standing today.I have chills now, just thinking about it, the Alamos Director of Archaeology Dr. Tiffany Lindley told the Alamos official podcast, Stories Bigger Than Texas: The Alamo Podcast. March 5th is when we pulled it out of the ground. I dont think words can express the feelings that we all felt.The cannonball was found in a clean deposit, meaning that archaeologists could document the layers of soil that covered it. By studying these, they were able determine that the ball dated to 1836, the year of the Battle of the Alamo.Whats more, archaeologists even have a good idea of who fired this four-pound cannonball. Because its made of bronze, experts suspect that it was originally used by the Mexican Army.We cant say with 100 percent certainty that it came from the Mexican Army, but I would say 99 percent because largely the Mexican Army is using bronze cannonballs and largely the Texans are using iron cannonballs, Alamo Senior Researcher and Historian Kolby Lanham explained on the podcast. Doesnt mean they didnt capture each others stuff and use it, but I would say with a fair amount of certainty that this is a Mexican Army cannonball.Lanham further explained that the cannonball was likely fired during the Battle of the Alamo, or possibly during the 13-day siege that took place in the lead-up the battle.Furthermore, the cannonball was not the only relic from the Alamos violent past that archaeologists uncovered. They also found four exploding shot fragments three made from bronze, and one made from iron.Alamo TrustThe four shot fragments are made from both bronze and iron, suggesting that they came from both the Mexican and the American sides.Artifacts like these provide a fascinating window into the dramatic history of the Alamo.The History Behind The Battle Of The AlamoThough its a quiet historical site today, the Alamo was once at the heart of a revolutionary struggle. Held by the Spanish, then by Mexicans rebelling against Spanish rule, the former Franciscan mission eventually fell into the hands of a group of white Texans in the 1830s. The Texans sought independence from Mexico, and roughly 200 of them including the famous frontiersman Davy Crockett dug in at the Alamo in December 1835.In February 1836, however, roughly 2,000 Mexican troops under the command of General Antonio Lpez de Santa Anna arrived at the Alamo, and laid siege to the fort. The siege lasted almost two weeks, but on March 6, the Mexicans overpowered the Texans and took the fort. Almost all the men defending the Alamo, including Crockett, were killed.Public DomainA depiction of the Battle of the Alamo. Davy Crockett is shown here holding up his rifle.But the story of the Alamo didnt end there. The Battle of the Alamo inspired other Texans seeking independence, and Sam Houston, the commander-in-chief of the Texan forces, rallied his men with the cry, Remember the Alamo! The Texans soon defeated the Mexicans at the Battle of San Jacinto that April, securing Texan independence. The state would then be annexed by the United States in 1845, bringing an end to this dramatic chapter in American history.After reading about the cannonball found at the Alamo, discover the thrilling stories behind some of the most legendary lawmen of the Wild West. Then, look through these stunningly colorized Wild West photos.The post Archaeologists Just Unearthed An Intact Cannonball That Was Likely Fired During The Battle Of The Alamo appeared first on All That's Interesting.

In 1922, Dolly Oesterreichs husband Fred was murdered in their Los Angeles home. At first, police thought Freds murder seemed like a robbery gone wrong. Theyd found Dolly locked in a closet when they arrived, and some of the couples valuables were missing. But the police had in fact stumbled into a strange love-triangle involving Dolly, her husband, and her lover, who was living in their attic with Dollys blessing.Wikimedia CommonsWalburga Dolly Oesterreich, circa 1930.The strange story had begun almost a decade earlier, in 1913, when Dolly first crossed paths with a young man named Otto Sanhuber. The two fell in love and, to conceal their affair, Dolly invited Sanhuber to live in her attic. After hearing a violent argument between Dolly and Fred nine years later, Sanhuber had emerged and shot Fred Oesterreich to death.He and Dolly Oesterreich almost got away with murder. But Dollys actions after the fact eventually roused suspicion, and the world learned the truth of Dolly, Sanhuber, and their bizarre relationship.This is their story.How Otto Sanhuber Moved Into Dolly Oesterreichs AtticLos Angeles Public LibraryFred and Dolly Oesterreich in front of their home.Before she became known as a naughty vamp, in the media, Walburga Dolly Oesterreich was a Milwaukee housewife, married to an apron manufacturer named Fred Oesterreich.One day in 1913, 26-year-old Dolly called her husband at work and told him that her sewing machine was broken. Fred sent a 17-year-old boy named Otto Sanhuber to look into it, and when Sanhuber arrived at the Oesterreich family home, Dolly opened the door wearing just stockings and a silk robe. With that, their affair began. But Sanhubers comings and goings quickly attracted the attention of the Osterreichs neighbors. At first, Dolly claimed that the 17-year-old was her vagabond half-brother. Then, to further avoid detection, Dolly came up with a surprising plan for Sanhuber to move into her attic. Los Angeles Public LibraryOtto Sanhuber, the man who lived in Dolly Oesterreichs attic for years.Sanhuber agreed to more or less abandoned his own life. He moved into the Oesterreichs attic, where he spent the day making love to Dolly or helping her with household chores (the Los Angeles Times reported in 1995 that these included making bathtub gin.) Then, when Fred got home in the evening, Sanhuber retreated to the attic and wrote science fiction stories.When Fred Oesterreich decided to move his family to Los Angeles in 1918, Otto Sanhuber quietly came along. In fact, LAist reported in 2022 that Dolly agreed to the move on one condition: their new house had to have an attic. Dolly Oesterreich found a suitable house in the neighborhood of Silver Lake. And there, just a few years later, Otto Sanhuber would murder her husband.The Murder Of Fred Oesterreich In Los AngelesLos Angeles Public LibraryThe Oesterreich family home in the Los Angeles neighborhood of Silver Lake.For four years, Dolly Oesterreich and Otto Sanhuber continued their affair right under Fred Oesterreichs nose. But everything changed on the night of August 22, 1922, when Dolly and Fred began to argue. From his place in the attic, Otto Sanhuber listened as the argument escalated. He began to fear for Dollys safety, and so grabbed two .25-caliber gun and raced into the house to confront Fred. Fred immediately recognized Sanhuber, and became exceedingly angry. The two men struggled, and the guns went off. Fred Oesterreich was shot three times, and killed. Dolly and Sanhuber panicked and decided to stage the scene as a robbery. Sanhuber took Freds expensive diamond watch, locked Dolly in a closet, and then scurried back up into the attic. Moments later the police called by a neighbor whod heard gunshots arrived at the scene. The police found Dolly in the closet, and she told them that her husband had been shot by a robber. However, the police were suspicious about the scene from the beginning. For starters, Dolly claimed that she and her husband never fought. For another, Fred had been killed with a relatively small gun, the kind of weapon usually carried by a woman. Los Angeles Public LibraryThe entrance to Otto Sanhubers hiding place.But since police couldnt figure out how Dolly could have killed her husband, and then locked herself in the closet, they reluctantly believed her story. However, the truth about Fred Oesterreichs murder would soon come out.How The World Learned Dolly Oesterreichs StoryIn the aftermath of Freds murder, Dolly Oesterreich moved into a different house. Otto Sanhuber followed her but continued to live primarily in the attic. Their routine thus continued as normal, though Sanhuber allowed himself the luxury of a noisy typewriter to compose his stories.Meanwhile, Dolly managed to get herself two new lovers her estate attorney, Herman S. Shapiro, and a businessman named Roy H. Klumb.Los Angeles Public LibraryDolly Oesterreich with a court interviewer.With Shapiro and Klumb, Dolly made two mistakes. First, she gifted Freds diamond watch to Shapiro. Shapiro recognized it as the one stolen by the burglar, but Dolly told him that shed found it under a cushion. Second, Dolly asked Klumb to get rid of one of Sanhubers guns by telling him that it looked like the one used to kill her husband, and she was worried that the police would suspect her. Klumb dropped the gun in the La Brea Tar Pits, and Dolly sweet-talked her neighbor into burying the other gun in his yard. But when Dolly broke up with Klumb, he went to the police. On July 12, 1923, the police found the discarded gun in the black bubbling tar. Dolly was arrested and, when her neighbor heard, he also went to the police. However, both guns were too badly damaged to determine if theyd been used to murder Fred Oesterreich. Then, with Dolly stuck in prison, she asked Shapiro to go check on Sanhuber. Otto Sanhuber told Shapiro everything, but Shapiro was seemingly undeterred by Sanhubers story. Instead, he convinced Sanhuber to leave the state and, when Dolly got out of prison on bail, he moved in with her. (Unlike Otto Sanhuber, Shapiro did not live in the attic.)The charges against Dolly were dropped but, when she and Shapiro split up seven years later, Shapiro went to the police and told them everything he knew. Dolly Oesterreich was subsequently charged with conspiracy, and Otto Sanhuber was charged with the murder of Fred Oesterreich. At trial, Dolly claimed that she had lied to the police to protect both Sanhuber and her reputation. Los Angeles Public LibraryDolly Oesterreich in prison.I didnt believe he meant to do it, and I didnt want to expose my life to the world having him in the house, she stated.Though Otto Sanhuber claimed that hed been Dolly Oesterreichs sex slave, a jury found him guilty of manslaughter. However, the statute of limitations on the manslaughter charge had run out, so Sanhuber walked free. Meanwhile, Dolly Oesterreichs case ended in a hung jury. She also walked free. Dolly Oesterreich died in 1961 at age 80, and will be forever remembered for her role in what the media dubbed the Bat Man murder case.Next, read about these vintage Hollywood scandals that rocked Tinseltown, or look through these chilling unsolved cold cases.The post Dolly Oesterreich, The Married Woman Who Kept Her Secret Lover In The Attic For 10 Years Even After He Killed Her Husband appeared first on All That's Interesting.

AFPResearchers believe the mass sacrifice was a ritualistic offering to the Chims moon god, in order to ward off El Nio-related weather.Archaeologists in Peru have just discovered what is likely to be the largest mass child sacrifice site in recorded history. The 227 victims were found north of Lima, near the coastal town of Huanchaco. According to the BBC, every single one of them was aged between five and 14. Its currently believed that the children were killed more than 500 years ago. The archaeologists said that some of the corpses still had hair and skin, with clear signs indicating that the children were killed during wet weather.They were also facing the ocean, which suggests they were likely sacrificed as an offering to the gods worshipped by the Chim people of the region. They were one of the strongest most independent civilizations at the time and established themselves along Perus northern coast.AFPIn 2018, two child sacrifice sites were discovered nearby. This latest site is larger than both of those combined, excluding the llamas.While its uncertain exactly when these children were sacrificed, its clear that they died over 500 years ago, and that the Chim reached the height of their empire between 1200 and 1400 A.D. before the Incas overran them. The latter were soon thereafter conquered by the Spanish.Nonetheless, according to CNN, it was the Chim who built Chan Chan the biggest city in pre-Columbian South America.To put this discovery into some regional context, researchers also recently unearthed 200 child sacrifice victims of human sacrifice at two other sites in Peru. Clearly, long-lost signs of various historical civilizations on the South American continent are making themselves more and more apparent over time.A Guardian segment on the discovery of 227 bodies in Huanchaco, Peru.The Chims worshipped Shi, a moon god they believed to be more powerful than the sun. Sacrifices and offerings were standard practices to appease Shi during spiritual rituals, of which these 227 children were likely victims of.The most stunning part of this record-setting find is that the archaeological dig is far from over. Excavations are ongoing, and researchers at the site are more than confident that the 227 bodies will soon be joined by quite a few more. Its uncontrollable, this thing with the children, said lead archaeologist Feren Castillo. Wherever you dig, theres another one.Peruvian state media reports suggest Castillo may already be proven right. Media agency Andina claimed the body count estimate is now as high as 250 and that the remains of 40 warriors were discovered as well.AFPWhile the current tally is at 227, Peruvian state media agency Andina is reporting as many as 250. Archaeologists on site said excavations are ongoing and more are likely to be found.Most notable is the fact that this is now the third find of its kind at the Pampa La Cruz archaeological site in Huanchaco. Last years discoveries were comprised of 56 bodies found in June and 140 children and 200 llamas in April.This particular one, however, thoroughly distinguishes itself by the sheer numbers involved.This is the biggest site where the remains of sacrificed children have been found, said Castillo. Chan Chan was once the largest mud-brick city on the planet. The Chim accomplished some impressive civil engineering feats like irrigating the desert sands of Perus coast. Their society was comprised of craftsmen, farmers, and varied in social strata from elites to workmanlike classes.When Inca emperor Topa Inca Yupanqui and his army invaded the city in 1470, however, the Chim people met their demise. Unfortunately, it seems their centuries-old city might be following suit in the near future. More than 500 years of rainwater has done quite a bit of damage to the mud-made bricks.AFPEvery single one of the 227 bodies discovered in Huanchaco was aged between five and 14. They were facing the ocean, as a potential element of the sacrificial offering to the Chims moon god, Shi.Castillo believes that even then, over 500 years ago, the Chim were attempting to ward off weather detrimental to their survival. These sacrifices discovered centuries later, he believes, were directly related to that struggle and served as appeasements to their gods in hopes the climate would shift.They were sacrificed to appease the El Nio phenomenon, we have found more evidence of rainfall in the findings, Castillo said. Most harrowing regarding last years discoveries was that many of the children had their hearts ripped out as part of the sacrificial ritual. Cuts to their breastbones and dislocated rib cages were clear indications that brutal theory.According to National Geographic, while it was clear that the Inca engaged in ritual sacrifice, there hadnt been evidence of it being done by the Chim until 2018.Until now, we had no idea that the Chim did anything like that, said John Verano, a biological anthropologist and forensic expert at Tulane University. Its the luck of archaeology.After learning about the largest mass child sacrifice in history, read about the tragic story of the Jonestown Massacre, modern historys largest mass suicide. Then, learn about archaeologists solving the mystery of unexplained deaths near the portal to hell.The post Archaeologists In Peru Unearth The Single Largest Child Sacrifice Site In The World appeared first on All That's Interesting.

Humans have had a penchant for puzzle solving for most of our existence. Whether its sudoku, crosswords, or escape rooms, we love to solve problems. And man, does it feel great when you finally get to have that a-ha moment. It would stand to reason that as games entered the digital era we would see puzzle video games. Sure enough, theyve been around since the very beginning.

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