Articles by Tom Garlinghouse

Tom Garlinghouse is a journalist specializing in general science stories. He has a Ph.D. in archaeology from the University of California, Davis, and was a practicing archaeologist prior to receiving his MA in science journalism from the University of California, Santa Cruz. His work has appeared in an eclectic array of print and online publications, including the Monterey Herald, the San Jose Mercury News, History Today, Sapiens.org, Science.com, Current World Archaeology and many others. He is also a novelist whose first novel Mind Fields, was recently published by Open-Books.com.

Articles by: Tom Garlinghouse

The charge of the Huns led by Attila (lived circa A.D. 406 to 453).

Who were the Huns, the nomadic horse warriors who invaded ancient Europe?

By Tom Garlinghouse published 31 August 22

The Huns were nomadic horse warriors, originally from Asia, who invaded Europe in the late fourth century A.D. and carved out an empire that stretched from Asia to Europe.

Here we see the Aztec calendar stone known as the Stone of the Sun. It is a round shape, with a face in the middle with it’s tongue out. In concentric circles going out from the middle there are several layers, each with intricate patterns.

The Aztec civilization: Mexico's last great Indigenous empire

By Tom Garlinghouse published 16 August 22

The Aztec Empire flourished in the Valley of Mexico between A.D. 1325 and 1519 and was the last great civilization before the arrival of the Spanish in the early 16th century.

Here we see the Tian Tan Buddha (the Big Buddha). It is the world’s tallest outdoor seated bronze Buddha. The giant statue is sitting cross-legged, with one hand resting on his knee (palm up) and one hand held out in front of him, palm facing outwards. The statue is surround by a number of dark green trees, which only reach up to its knee. The morning sky is blue with a few clouds.

The Buddha: History, meditation, religion and images

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated 1 August 22

Siddhartha Gautama, better known as the Buddha, was a spiritual teacher who lived during the fifth and sixth centuries B.C. in India and founded the Buddhist religion.

Engraving Portrait of Hernan Cortés, Spanish Conquistador (1485-1547). He has dark hair down just past his ears, a neatly trimmed moustache and beard. He's wearing a flat hat with a brimm. He's also wearing what looks to be a coat with fur lapels.

Hernán Cortés: Conqueror of the Aztecs

By Jessie Szalay last updated 17 August 22

Hernán Cortés was a Spanish conquistador who conquered the Aztec Empire in the early 16th century.

A close up of a circular manhole cover partially removed.

Why are manhole covers round?

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated 22 July 22

There are a myriad of answers to the question, "why are manhole covers round?" But most of them have to do with functionality and economy.

This is an underwater photo of white, green, and reddish-pink coral reef surrounded by a school of little yellow Anthias fish. It was taken in the Red Sea.

Is the Red Sea really red?

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated 22 July 22

The Red Sea takes its name from periodic blooms of a blue-green algae called Trichodesmium erythraeum, which turn the normally vivid blue waters a reddish-brown.

This is a photo of the Indus Valley Civilization's ancient stupa - one of the best preserved parts of Mohenjo Daro in Pakistan. It is a series of large steps made out of sand-colored bricks, interwoven with staircases. Right at the top is a circular dome.

What was the Indus Valley Civilization?

By Tom Garlinghouse published 31 May 22

Reference The Indus Valley Civilization — famous for its large, well-planned cities — is considered one of the six early pristine state-level civilizations.

Pictish Cross Slab. theasis via Getty Images.

Who were the Picts, the early inhabitants of Scotland?

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated 17 August 22

Reference The Picts were a people of Celtic origin who lived in parts of Scotland from about the fourth century A.D. to the early Middle Ages.

A Scythian-made stag plaque dating to 400 B.C. to 300 BC.

Who were the Scythians?

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated 2 September 22

Reference The Scythians were an important ancient society of warriors and pastoralists who dominated the steppe land north of the Black Sea between 800 B.C. and A.D. 300.

25 amazing women in science and math

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated 7 March 23

From the first woman to win a Nobel Prize to the discoverer of jumping genes, here are some of the women who have made major contributions to science and mathematics.

A depiction of the Library of Alexandria made in 1876

The rise and fall of the Great Library of Alexandria

By Tom Garlinghouse published 14 March 22

Reference The Great Library of Alexandria in Egypt was the most important repository of knowledge in the ancient world.

Bas-relief carved on the walls of old buildings from the Persian city of Persepolis _Delbars via Shutterstock

Who were the ancient Persians?

By Tom Garlinghouse last updated 14 July 22

Reference The Persians, originally a semi-nomadic people from central Asia, settled on the Iranian plateau and founded the Achaemenid Empire.

The Eye of Providence, one of the symbols of masonry

Freemasons: History, facts and myths

By Tom Garlinghouse, Callum McKelvie published 21 January 22

Reference Freemasons are often misunderstood as cult members or religious zealots, but they are actually part of the world's largest fraternal organization

A digital reconstruction of the Arma Veirana cave.

Burial of infant 'Neve' could be oldest of its kind in Europe

By Tom Garlinghouse published 17 December 21

An infant burial discovered in the Italian Alps sheds light on how the hunter-gatherers of Europe dealt with issues of personhood and status 10,000 years ago.

Reproduction of Ötzi the Iceman an in the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy

Ötzi the Iceman: The famous frozen mummy

By Tom Garlinghouse, Jessica Leggett published 14 December 21

Reference Ötzi the Iceman, a 5,300-year-old man whose mummified remains were dug out of an Italian glacier in the Alps, has fascinated the public since his discovery in 1991.

Who was the first person on record to write about the British Isles?

Who was the first person to write about the British Isles?

By Tom Garlinghouse published 18 October 21

In the fourth century B.C., a little-known Greek mariner visited the British Isles. When he returned, he wrote a book about his travels, called "On the Ocean," which was read for centuries.

The most beautiful places in the world

By Tom Garlinghouse published 13 July 21

Our list of 10 of the most beautiful places in the world covers an array of natural landscapes, cities, islands and cultural sites.

The international date line, explained

By Tom Garlinghouse published 23 June 21

The international date line is a concept often fraught with misunderstanding and confusion. But it plays an important role in our lives and a central role in timekeeping.

Sketch of Carl Linnaeus' portrait with a plant sprouting from his chest.

Who was Carl Linnaeus?

By Tom Garlinghouse published 8 December 20

Carl Linnaeus, the famous 18th century Swedish botanist, created the basic foundation on which the modern binomial classification system is based.

Mummification: The lost art of embalming the dead

By Tom Garlinghouse published 15 July 20

Mummification, or the process of preserving the dead, was once a widespread practice among many ancient societies.

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