Latest articles by Tom Metcalfe
Where is Queen Boudica buried?
The remains of Britain's national heroine — Queen Boudica of the Iceni tribe — are not under a train station in north London. So, where is her grave?
350-year-old mummified head from Bolivia isn't what it seems
A mummified skull from Bolivia was long thought to be of an Inca man, but a new study finds it had a different history.
Why does the universe exist?
The universe exists because matter and antimatter are not good friends.
1,000-year-old 'king' game piece with a distinctive hairstyle is 'as close as we will ever get to a portrait of a Viking'
A unique game piece from Norway that was crafted during the time of Harald Bluetooth may depict a Viking king.
What was the first human species?
Modern humans emerged roughly 300,000 years ago, but our genus Homo is much older. So what's the oldest human species on record?
3,000-year-old burial of elite teen unearthed in Iran, with gold jewelry and astonishing 'scorpion' cosmetics box
The extraordinary burial of a teenager buried with gold jewelry and a snake- and scorpion-decorated cosmetics box has been unearthed in Iran — and it may date to more than 3,000 years ago.
3,800-year-old burial of tall warrior buried with 4-pronged spearhead unearthed in Azerbaijan
The burial holds a Bronze Age man who stood more than 6 feet, 6 inches tall and may have been a military leader.
1,600-year-old tomb of Maya city's first ruler unearthed in Belize
Archaeologists have discovered the tomb of the Maya king who founded the city of Caracol in what is now Belize.
Severed bow of US warship blown off by Japanese torpedo finally found in South Pacific
More than 180 lives were lost in the WWII attack, but the U.S. ship stayed afloat.
Massive blocks from the Lighthouse of Alexandria, an ancient wonder, hauled up from the Mediterranean
French and Egyptian researchers are making a "digital twin" of the Lighthouse of Alexandria in Egypt after lifting its ancient submerged blocks out of the Mediterranean Sea.
300-year-old pirate-plundered shipwreck that once held 'eyewatering treasure' discovered off Madagascar
Researchers think a shipwreck off Madagascar was a Portuguese treasure ship captured by pirates in 1721.
Viking Age woman was buried with her dog in an elaborate 'boat grave,' excavations reveal
Researchers think the Viking Age boat burial of a woman and her pooch in Norway dates to between A.D. 900 and 950.
Ottoman-era burial found in Israel may violate Islamic tradition
The unusual grave of a Bedouin woman who may have been buried with her son was found in southern Israel.
Gold coins from 'world's richest shipwreck' reveal 300-year-old depictions of castles, lions and Jerusalem crosses
Researchers used robotic diving vehicles to study gold coins on the seafloor by the wreck of the Spanish galleon San José.
Blue-eyed 'Ice Prince' toddler was buried with a sword and a piglet 1,350 years ago in Bavaria
The "Ice Prince" burial sheds light on a toddler from a wealthy family who lived around 1,350 years ago in Bavaria, Germany.
Ancient cave burial of 'Jesus' midwife' may actually hold a princess
The site's architecture may indicate the Judaean princess was buried there.
43,000-year-old human fingerprint is world's oldest — and made by a Neanderthal
The discovery of a 43,000-year-old fingerprint in Spain is challenging the idea that Neanderthals were not capable of symbolic art.
American submarine, lost for over a century, discovered 'remarkably intact' off the coast of San Diego
A submarine that sank over 100 years ago during WWI has been surveyed off the coast of San Diego.
When was math invented?
Humans started counting tens of thousands of years ago, but when did they begin figuring out advanced arithmetic, algebra and even calculus?
1940s Ford car found on wartime US carrier wreck
Researchers think the vehicle was used as a staff car by naval officers during World War II.
7 myths about the Vikings that are (almost) totally false
All that you've heard about the Vikings may not be true.
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.
