› added 5 years ago

247

TIL That an illiterate retired guard in his 70s saved many of Timbuktu’s priceless manuscripts during the 2012 Al Qaeda occupation of the city, by smuggling them out of the city at night in rice sacks, in a cart. Jihadists went on to burn whatever manuscripts were left.

Read more irishtimes.com

via reddit.com

GAWO7 TIL: Plywood was invented over 4500 years ago in Ancient Egypt
O77g TIL Ninjas never wore black. They darkest color they ever wore was blue (during nighttime). Mostly they wore the inconspicuous clothing of peasants, merchants, traveling priests, etc.
epdJ5 TIL that the actual landmass the state of Rhode Island is named after is more commonly known as Aquidneck Island.
a88Kb TIL that in 1995 when a lawsuit was brought against Shell Oil for the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa and 8 men in Nigeria, Shell settled out of court for $15.5 million.
wLnyo TIL: The Great Whiskey Fire of Dublin in 1875 was when 5000 barrels of whiskey ignited and flowed into the streets. 13 people died that day, but not from burns or smoke inhalation. They died from alcohol poisoning after trying to drink it all.