An uninhabited area located high in the Indian Himalayas, Roopkund is best known as the home of Skeleton Lake, where in 1942 a park ranger made a startling discovery—a mass grave containing the remains of some 300 to 600 people. Using radiocarbon dating, scientists traced the skeletons to the 9th century. Though people initially believed the dead were victims of landslides, an epidemic, or a blizzard, further examination of the skulls revealed that the people died in what unusual way? Discuss
Source: The Free Dictionary
The son of Marcus Aurelius, Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus was a Roman emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 CE—a period some historians view as the beginning of the empire’s decline. Though his reign was relatively peaceful, Commodus was a tyrant who spent lavishly on gladiatorial combats, persecuted the Senate, and even renamed Rome after himself. He fancied himself a gladiator, frequently battling both men and animals, and considered himself the reincarnation of what mythical hero? 
The Shrine of the Book is the wing of Jerusalem’s Israel Museum that houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, a collection of ancient documents found between 1947 and 1956 in caves on the Dead Sea’s northwest shore, at Qumran. Funded by the family of David Samuel Gottesman, a philanthropist who purchased the scrolls as a gift to Israel, the shrine features an unusual white dome that covers an underground structure. How does the museum ensure that the fragile scrolls survive the rigors of being displayed? 
The Ghost Dance is the main ritual of a messianic religious movement that gained a widespread following among Native American groups in the American West during the late 19th century. The dance, which incorporates traditional circle dance rituals, was created by a member of the Paiute tribe known as Wovoka, who taught that it would hasten the ousting of whites, the restoration of traditional lands, and the resurrection of the dead. What role did the Ghost Dance play in the Wounded Knee massacre? 
Acid precipitation, also known as acid rain, is any form of precipitation—snow, rain, sleet, or hail—that contains a heavy concentration of sulfuric and nitric acids. Automobiles, certain industrial operations, and electric power plants that burn fossil fuels emit pollutants that combine with atmospheric moisture to create these acids. Acid rain can contaminate drinking water, damage vegetation and aquatic life, and erode buildings and monuments. Where was acid rain first found? 
Prior to 1832, only the corpses of executed murderers were allowed to be dissected in the UK, but with the rise of medical science and the scaling back of executions, demand came to outstrip supply. The British Anatomy Act, passed in response to public concern about the illegal trade in corpses, was an act of Parliament that increased the supply of cadavers legally available for medical research and education. What were “resurrectionists,” and how were they impacted by the Anatomy Act? 
On June 1, 2001, Crown Prince Dipendra of Nepal opened fire on family members attending a royal party, killing his father, King Birendra, and 9 others before shooting himself. Dipendra remained in a coma for 3 days before succumbing to his wounds and was proclaimed king during that time. Because constitutional law and tradition prevented officials from accusing Dipendra of mass murder while he was alive, they initially claimed the shooting had been accidental. What was Dipendra’s alleged motive? _-_Pierre-Eugene-Emile_Hebert_1860_-_NG_of_Arts_Wash_DC.jpg)
The Amazons are a mythical nation of female warriors whose place in Greek mythology may have been inspired by Sarmatian warrior women who, according to ancient historians, went to battle alongside their men. Archaeological evidence seems to confirm this theory; a quarter of the Sarmatian military graves that have been discovered belong to women, many of whom were buried with bows. What extreme form of body modification were Amazons rumored to practice in order to improve their marksmanship? 
According to the historian Tacitus, the Great Fire of Rome started in the shops around the Circus Maximus on July 18 in 64 CE and burned for 5 days. In his account, Tacitus writes that the fire completely destroyed 4 and severely damaged 7 of the 14 Roman districts. Both the size and cause of the fire are debated as well as Emperor Nero’s response to the crisis. Some claim he sang or played music while the city burned, and many accused Nero of arson. Nero, in turn, blamed what religious group? 
American soldiers returning home after WWII brought with them many misconceptions about traditional Japanese geisha culture, including the now widespread Western belief that geisha are prostitutes. In fact, geisha are highly-trained entertainers who are skilled in the arts of singing, dancing, conversing, and playing traditional instruments. Geisha are known for their recognizable white makeup, elaborate dress, and complex hairstyles. How must geisha sleep in order to protect these hairdos?