Latest articles by Tom Metcalfe
'Ghost Ship of the Pacific,' which fought on both sides in WWII, discovered near San Francisco
The newfound wreck could help maritime archaeologists better understand how 20th-century warships were designed.
Medieval gold coin unearthed in ruined fortress in Bulgaria may depict Byzantine emperor
Archaeologists think the coin dates to the first years of the region's rule by the Ottoman Empire.
50 Viking Age burials discovered in Denmark, including a woman in a rare 'Viking wagon'
Finding a Viking Age burial ground of this size is rare, in part because Scandinavian soil doesn't preserve skeletons well.
Razed city that rebelled against Rome 'remained uninhabited for over 170 years,' excavations reveal
The ancient city was besieged and destroyed in 125 B.C., probably in a dispute over the rights of Roman citizenship.
When was steel invented?
No one knows for sure when steel was invented, but some of the earliest examples crop up in the first millennium B.C. in Central and South Asia.
Man buried with large stones on his chest to prevent him from 'rising from the grave' unearthed in Germany
Archaeologists in Germany have unearthed a "revenant" grave where a man was buried with large stones on his chest to prevent him from rising from the dead.
2,300-year-old Celtic helmet discovered in Poland
Archaeologists think the ancient helmet indicates that Celts settled in the region to protect their supplies of precious amber.
16,000-year-old skeleton, crystals and stone tools discovered in Malaysian caves
Archaeologists think the earliest skeleton from the Malaysian excavation may be up to 16,000 years old.
Why doesn't stainless steel rust?
The special chemistry of this shiny iron alloy creates a protective layer on its surface that prevents it from rusting.
1,700-year-old 'barbarian' burial discovered along Roman Empire's frontier in Germany
Archaeologists think the man was buried in the first half of the fourth century.
Roman coin trove discovered on Mediterranean island may have been hidden during ancient pirate attack
The silver coin discoveries date to the Roman Republic and are from the island of Pantelleria, between Sicily and Tunisia.
World War I British warship that sank in a surprise U-boat attack 110 years ago discovered in North Sea
HMS Hawke sank after an explosion caused by an enemy torpedo, with the loss of more than 500 of its crew.
3 shipwrecks from 'forgotten battle' of World War II discovered off remote Alaskan island
This is the first time that wrecks from the almost-overlooked conflict in WWII have been studied scientifically.
3,000-year-old goddess figurine found in an Italian lake still bears the handprints of its maker
Archaeologists think the figurine was a homemade representation of an ancient goddess.
17th-century pirate 'corsair' shipwreck discovered off Morocco's Barbary Coast
The wreck is the first time the remains of a pirate corsair have been found in the region known as the Barbary Coast.
32 important scientists you've probably never heard of
These scientists may be lesser known than Einstein and Newton, but they made giant contributions to science, including astronomy, physics, chemistry and medicine.
Stunning Tang dynasty mural in tomb unearthed in China may portray a 'Westerner' man with blond hair
A Tang dynasty tomb unearthed in China dates from the 700s, and the murals on its walls give an unprecedented view of daily life at the time.
Ancient stone circles in Norway were hiding a dark secret: dozens of children's graves
A Bronze and Iron Age burial ground for children that was unearthed in Norway was used for 600 years, and archaeologists aren't sure why.
6,000-year-old burial mound in Czech Republic may be one of earliest funeral monuments ever found in Europe
The structure is thought to be made by the people behind the Neolithic Funnel-Beaker culture.
Royal tomb in Benin has traces of human blood on its walls, hinting at human sacrifice, study finds
Researchers examining the wall of a ceremonial tomb in Benin found proteins that could have come only from human blood.
4,000-year-old 'Seahenge' in UK was built to 'extend summer,' archaeologist suggests
The construction of the monument and another beside it more than 4,000 years ago corresponds to a time of bitter cold.
'Jackpot' of 2,000 early-medieval coins discovered by hiker in Czech Republic
The coins must have amounted to a huge sum when they were buried about 900 years ago.
Viking sword with 'very rare' inscription discovered on family farm in Norway
The ancient weapon seems to be a rare type of iron sword made in the Frankish Empire.
