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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6,500-year-old hunting weapons found in Texas cave are among the oldest known in North AmericaThe weapons from a toolkit unearthed in Texas may be the earliest ever found in North America.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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What was the first alphabet in the world?New discoveries challenge old ideas about the earliest alphabets.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Stunning reconstruction reveals warrior from ancient SiberiaA 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Mass grave of Roman-era soldiers discovered beneath soccer field in ViennaRoman dead were often cremated, so the ancient mass grave in Vienna is a rare find.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Mysterious origin of iconic Sutton Hoo helmet possibly revealed in new researchA 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Ancient Egyptian soldiers and Greek mercenaries were at 'Armageddon' when biblical king was killed, study suggestsArchaeologists 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Most ancient Europeans had dark skin, eyes and hair up until 3,000 years ago, new research findsA new study charts the genetics of skin, hair and eye color in Europe over 45,000 years.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Scientists realize 'Viking' shipwreck is something else entirelyA more than 500-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Sweden isn't a Viking vessel after all, scientists have found.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Hoard of silver Roman coins found in UK — and some date to reign of Marcus AureliusThe silver coins were minted over a period of more than 200 years, suggesting that Roman currency at this time was relatively stable.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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When did modern humans reach each of the 7 continents?Ideas about the global dispersal of Homo sapiens have changed over time.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Mystery of how man's brain turned to glass after Vesuvius eruption possibly solvedThe new study on the "glass brain" from Herculaneum is the latest episode in a long-running academic dispute.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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5,000-year-old fortress found in Spain contains mysterious burial of Roman-era man with daggerThe nearly 5,000-year-old fortress in Spain has a much more recent burial dating to the Roman era.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Lasers reveal 1,000-year-old Indigenous road near Chaco Canyon that aligns with the winter solsticeResearchers think the Indigenous roads were more about cosmology than traffic.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Gold jewelry with leopard and tiger designs unearthed in 2,400-year-old burial in KazakhstanThe high value of the fifth-century-B.C. artifacts found in Kazakhstan indicates that wealthy or even "royal" Sarmatians were buried there.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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'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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Early-medieval stash of 'devil's money' found at cult site in the NetherlandsResearchers think the site in the Netherlands may have been used for pagan worship in reaction to the spread of Christianity.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Medieval 'vampire' burial in Croatia contains decapitated and twisted remainsThe "vampire" find illustrates a popular fear that the "undead" could rise from their graves.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Rare 'Corinthian' helmet from ancient Greece is up for auction, and stunningly preservedA helmet up for auction in London is a well-preserved example of the "Corinthian" helmets used by many hoplite warriors.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Roman emperor quiz: Test your knowledge on the rulers of the ancient empireThe 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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20,000-year-old 'human' fossils from Japan aren't what we thoughtThe bone fragments were once thought to be some of the oldest human fossils found in Japan.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Famous Sutton Hoo helmet may be clue that early Anglo-Saxons fought as mercenaries for Byzantine Empire, study suggestsThe famous helmet is among the Anglo-Saxon artifacts that indicate an eastern link with the Byzantine Empire.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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Ancient 'Stonehenge' in Golan Heights may not be astronomical observatory after all, archaeologists sayA 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.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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1,700-year-old oil lamp found in Jerusalem shows a rare Jewish menorah, even though the Romans tried to suppress the religionThe lamp depicts Jewish motifs from a time when Jewish worship was suppressed under the Romans.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
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3 Christmas traditions that may have pagan roots, and 4 that (probably) don'tSome Christmas traditions mirror pre-Christian festivities, but some pagan influences may have been overstated.
By Tom Metcalfe Published
