Tonka Bean: The Tale of a Contested Commodity
The rise and fall of the sweet-smelling seeds of Dipteryx odorata stands in stark contrast to the tree’s lasting presence in global markets.
Perspectives on Public Space: A JSTOR Daily Podcast
What is public space? How does it function? Whom does it benefit, and whom does it harm? These are just a few of the questions we put to experts on the subject.
On the Meaning and Value of Public Spaces
What is public space? How is it produced, and why is that production important for our social and political lives?
A Fierce Devotion to the “Empress of Hell”
Medieval dramatizations of the confrontation between the Virgin Mary and King Herod offered a symbolic resistance to tyranny.
Shucking the Past: Can Oysters Thrive Again?
Dredging and pollution devastated the once-bountiful reefs. Careful science may help bring them back.
Amy V. Margaris on the Role of the Archaeologist
Anthropological archaeologist Amy V. Margaris argues that to do our best science, we need a diverse group of practitioners—in the field and in the museum.
When You Know That Loan Won’t Be Repaid
Refusing to loan a friend money can have social repercussions. What strategies do would-be lenders use to make these interactions less fraught?
The Erie Canal at 200
Finished in October 1825, the Erie Canal connected increasingly specialized regions, altering the economic landscape of the northeast United States.
Documenting a Disappearing Architecture
The Heinz Gaube Lebanese Architectural Photographs Collection, supported by an innovative mapping project, details threatened buildings across Lebanon.
The Fifteenth Amendment: Annotated
The brevity of the Fifteenth Amendment of the US Constitution belies its impact on American voting rights.