Latest articles by Tom Metcalfe
What are ghost lineages, remnants of the past that still exist in our DNA today?
Ghost lineages reveal themselves through ancient genes that still exist in living beings today.
CT scans reveal the last moments of Inca children sacrificed as 'messengers to the gods'
New CT scans reveal the last moments of the Inca children who were sacrificed and mummified about 500 years ago.
7,500-year-old deer skull headdress discovered in Germany indicates hunter-gatherers shared sacred items and ideas with region's first farmers
The discovery of a deer skull headdress and tools made from antlers at the site of a New Stone Age farming village suggests that hunter-gatherers were sharing ideas with the newcomers.
'Landmark' elephant bone finding in Spain may be from time of Hannibal's war against Rome
An elephant bone discovered in Spain may date to the time of Hannibal's battles against the Romans.
2,400-year-old Hercules shrine and elite tombs discovered outside ancient Rome's walls
Archaeologists have unearthed tombs and a shrine dedicated to Hercules from the time of the Roman Republic.
Monumental tomb discovered in Turkey might be of royal from King Midas' kingdom
A burial mound in Turkey may have held the remains of a member of King Midas's family. But not all experts are convinced.
Mysterious Voynich manuscript may be a cipher, a new study suggests
A newly invented cipher may shed light on how the mysterious Voynich manuscript was made in medieval times.
'A huge surprise': 1,500-year-old church found next to Zoroastrianism place of worship in Iraq
A 2,000-year-old palace in the Republic of Georgia and a 1,500-year-old church in Iraq suggest Zoroastrians coexisted with people of other religions.
Rare 1,300-year-old medallion decorated with menorahs found near Jerusalem's Temple Mount
An excavation at the City of David in Jerusalem unearthed a 1,300-year-old medallion decorated with a seven-branched menorah on each side.
Pompeii victims were wearing woolen cloaks in August when they died — but experts are split on what that means
Some of the victims at Pompeii were wearing woolen cloaks when they died, even though it was August, new research finds.
2,000-year-old shipwreck may be Egyptian 'pleasure barge' from last dynasty of pharaohs
Archaeologists diving off the coast of Alexandria, Egypt, have discovered the remains of a 2,000-year-old "pleasure barge" from the time of the Ptolemaic period.
Lost Indigenous settlements described by Jamestown colonist John Smith finally found
Excavations along the Rappahannock River in Virginia have revealed the likely spot of Indigenous villages once described by John Smith.
Ancient 'hanging coffin' people in China finally identified — and their descendants still live there today
People buried in "hanging coffins" thousands of years ago in China and Southeast Asia have finally been identified through DNA research.
Sunken city discovered in Kyrgyzstan lake was a medieval hotspot on the Silk Road — until an earthquake wiped it out
Archaeologists in Kyrgyzstan have discovered the remains of a drowned medieval city that was once a Silk Road hotspot.
Earth's magnetic field has a weak spot — and it's getting bigger, putting astronauts and satellites at risk
This could be bad news for satellites and spacefarers.
5,000-year old 'cultic space' discovered in Iraq dates to time of the world's first cities
Archaeologists in Iraq have discovered the remains of a 5,000-year-old building that might have been used as a "cultic space" or temple for worship.
900-year-old burials of Denmark's early Christians discovered in medieval cemetery
Archaeologists excavating at a medieval cemetery in Denmark have found the burials of 77 people who were early Christians in the area but still likely harbored pagan beliefs.
Exceptionally rare iron saber, arrowheads and jewelry discovered in seventh-century warrior's tomb in Hungary
Archaeologists in Hungary have found the 1,300-year-old burial of a warrior who was buried with a rare iron saber.
DNA reveals what killed Napoleon's soldiers during their disastrous retreat from Russia in 1812
A mass grave holding soldiers from Napoleon Bonaparte's French army reveals some of the diseases that killed the Grande Armée during its disastrous retreat from Russia in 1812.
Ancient Roman tombstone found beneath undergrowth in New Orleans yard
A New Orleans couple doing yard work behind their house unexpectedly found a Roman headstone of a solider who died 1,900 years ago.
Hundreds of ancient gold and silver coins from possible Celtic market found in Czech Republic
Hundreds of gold and silver coins, along with jewelry and other artifacts, have been found in the Czech Republic at what might have been an ancient Celtic market.
Rare wampum beads discovered at 17th-century colony in Newfoundland
Archaeologists in Newfoundland have discovered seven tiny beads known as wampum that are made from seashells. They may be the first ever found in the province.
7-year-old Maya child had green jade 'tooth gem,' new study finds
Archaeologists already knew that adult Maya had tooth inlays, but this is some of the first evidence that children also had tooth bling.
