Tom Metcalfe is a freelance journalist and regular Live Science contributor who is based in London in the United Kingdom. Tom writes mainly about science, space, archaeology, the Earth and the oceans. He has also written for the BBC, NBC News, National Geographic, Scientific American, Air & Space, and many others.
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DNA reveals what killed Napoleon's soldiers during their disastrous retreat from Russia in 1812A 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Ancient Roman tombstone found beneath undergrowth in New Orleans yardA New Orleans couple doing yard work behind their house unexpectedly found a Roman headstone of a solider who died 1,900 years ago.
By Tom Metcalfe Last updated
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Hundreds of ancient gold and silver coins from possible Celtic market found in Czech RepublicHundreds 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Rare wampum beads discovered at 17th-century colony in NewfoundlandArchaeologists 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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7-year-old Maya child had green jade 'tooth gem,' new study findsArchaeologists already knew that adult Maya had tooth inlays, but this is some of the first evidence that children also had tooth bling.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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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?
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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350-year-old mummified head from Bolivia isn't what it seemsA mummified skull from Bolivia was long thought to be of an Inca man, but a new study finds it had a different history.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Why does the universe exist?The universe exists because matter and antimatter are not good friends.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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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?
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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3,000-year-old burial of elite teen unearthed in Iran, with gold jewelry and astonishing 'scorpion' cosmetics boxThe 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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3,800-year-old burial of tall warrior buried with 4-pronged spearhead unearthed in AzerbaijanThe burial holds a Bronze Age man who stood more than 6 feet, 6 inches tall and may have been a military leader.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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1,600-year-old tomb of Maya city's first ruler unearthed in BelizeArchaeologists have discovered the tomb of the Maya king who founded the city of Caracol in what is now Belize.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Severed bow of US warship blown off by Japanese torpedo finally found in South PacificMore than 180 lives were lost in the WWII attack, but the U.S. ship stayed afloat.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Massive blocks from the Lighthouse of Alexandria, an ancient wonder, hauled up from the MediterraneanFrench 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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300-year-old pirate-plundered shipwreck that once held 'eyewatering treasure' discovered off MadagascarResearchers think a shipwreck off Madagascar was a Portuguese treasure ship captured by pirates in 1721.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Viking Age woman was buried with her dog in an elaborate 'boat grave,' excavations revealResearchers think the Viking Age boat burial of a woman and her pooch in Norway dates to between A.D. 900 and 950.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Ottoman-era burial found in Israel may violate Islamic traditionThe unusual grave of a Bedouin woman who may have been buried with her son was found in southern Israel.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Gold coins from 'world's richest shipwreck' reveal 300-year-old depictions of castles, lions and Jerusalem crossesResearchers used robotic diving vehicles to study gold coins on the seafloor by the wreck of the Spanish galleon San José.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Blue-eyed 'Ice Prince' toddler was buried with a sword and a piglet 1,350 years ago in BavariaThe "Ice Prince" burial sheds light on a toddler from a wealthy family who lived around 1,350 years ago in Bavaria, Germany.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Ancient cave burial of 'Jesus' midwife' may actually hold a princessThe site's architecture may indicate the Judaean princess was buried there.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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43,000-year-old human fingerprint is world's oldest — and made by a NeanderthalThe discovery of a 43,000-year-old fingerprint in Spain is challenging the idea that Neanderthals were not capable of symbolic art.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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American submarine, lost for over a century, discovered 'remarkably intact' off the coast of San DiegoA submarine that sank over 100 years ago during WWI has been surveyed off the coast of San Diego.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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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?
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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