For this week’s historical highlights I’ve curated a mix of articles on archaeology, libraries, and historical tours — as well as Julia Child, Piltdown Man, the history of clowns, and more. I hope you find something that intrigues you!

The Guardian has an ongoing series on lost cities (from Babylon to Great Zimbabwe).

A curator at the National Museum of American History shares the history of the fish prints in Julia Child’s kitchen. (Looking for picture books about Julia Child? Look no further!)

Are you afraid of clowns? You’re not alone.

Here’s an opinion piece on an archaeological site in Toronto, which includes a BME Church founded by freed slaves.

And here you can read what archaeologists have uncovered at the University of Virginia.

Has “the greatest scientific crime ever committed in Britain” been solved?

If you get a chance to visit England, you might like to consult this list of “10 surviving secrets of Shakespeare’s London.”

Or if you’ll be in Halifax, you could check out this article about all the military history sites in the city.

Sadly, library use in England has fallen dramatically over the past decade.

On a happier note, check out this beach library!

Have a lovely weekend, everyone!