Latest articles by Tom Metcalfe
6,500-year-old hunting weapons found in Texas cave are among the oldest known in North America
The weapons from a toolkit unearthed in Texas may be the earliest ever found in North America.
What was the first alphabet in the world?
New discoveries challenge old ideas about the earliest alphabets.
Stunning reconstruction reveals warrior from ancient Siberia
A new full-body reconstruction depicts a warrior wearing armor and holding weapons, all of which were found in a 4,000-year-old burial in Siberia.
Mass grave of Roman-era soldiers discovered beneath soccer field in Vienna
Roman dead were often cremated, so the ancient mass grave in Vienna is a rare find.
Mysterious origin of iconic Sutton Hoo helmet possibly revealed in new research
A metalworking die found in Denmark features a depiction of a horse and warrior that is remarkably similar to motifs on the Sutton Hoo helmet in England.
Ancient Egyptian soldiers and Greek mercenaries were at 'Armageddon' when biblical king was killed, study suggests
Archaeologists have discovered evidence of an Egyptian army where an Israelite king was killed. The discoveries at Megiddo, which inspired "Armageddon," reinforce biblical stories about King Josiah of Judah.
Most ancient Europeans had dark skin, eyes and hair up until 3,000 years ago, new research finds
A new study charts the genetics of skin, hair and eye color in Europe over 45,000 years.
Scientists realize 'Viking' shipwreck is something else entirely
A more than 500-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sweden isn't a Viking vessel after all, scientists have found.
Hoard of silver Roman coins found in UK — and some date to reign of Marcus Aurelius
The silver coins were minted over a period of more than 200 years, suggesting that Roman currency at this time was relatively stable.
When did modern humans reach each of the 7 continents?
Ideas about the global dispersal of Homo sapiens have changed over time.
Mystery of how man's brain turned to glass after Vesuvius eruption possibly solved
The new study on the "glass brain" from Herculaneum is the latest episode in a long-running academic dispute.
5,000-year-old fortress found in Spain contains mysterious burial of Roman-era man with dagger
The nearly 5,000-year-old fortress in Spain has a much more recent burial dating to the Roman era.
Lasers reveal 1,000-year-old Indigenous road near Chaco Canyon that aligns with the winter solstice
Researchers think the Indigenous roads were more about cosmology than traffic.
Gold jewelry with leopard and tiger designs unearthed in 2,400-year-old burial in Kazakhstan
The high value of the fifth-century-B.C. artifacts found in Kazakhstan indicates that wealthy or even "royal" Sarmatians were buried there.
'Fascinating' Viking Age inscription reveals who owned immensely valuable 'Galloway Hoard'
A newly deciphered inscription suggests the immense "Galloway Hoard" found in Scotland over a decade ago was held in common.
Early-medieval stash of 'devil's money' found at cult site in the Netherlands
Researchers think the site in the Netherlands may have been used for pagan worship in reaction to the spread of Christianity.
Medieval 'vampire' burial in Croatia contains decapitated and twisted remains
The "vampire" find illustrates a popular fear that the "undead" could rise from their graves.
Rare 'Corinthian' helmet from ancient Greece is up for auction, and stunningly preserved
A helmet up for auction in London is a well-preserved example of the "Corinthian" helmets used by many hoplite warriors.
Roman emperor quiz: Test your knowledge on the rulers of the ancient empire
The Roman emperors were once the most famous people in the world, ruling over an empire that stretched between what are now Spain and the Middle East. But just how much do you know about these characters? Take our quiz to find out.
20,000-year-old 'human' fossils from Japan aren't what we thought
The bone fragments were once thought to be some of the oldest human fossils found in Japan.
Famous Sutton Hoo helmet may be clue that early Anglo-Saxons fought as mercenaries for Byzantine Empire, study suggests
The famous helmet is among the Anglo-Saxon artifacts that indicate an eastern link with the Byzantine Empire.
Ancient 'Stonehenge' in Golan Heights may not be astronomical observatory after all, archaeologists say
A new analysis of the 6,000-year-old stone circle known as Rujm el-Hiri (also Gilgal Refaim) in Golan Heights suggests that it was not built to observe the heavens.
1,700-year-old oil lamp found in Jerusalem shows a rare Jewish menorah, even though the Romans tried to suppress the religion
The lamp depicts Jewish motifs from a time when Jewish worship was suppressed under the Romans.
