Archaeologists find 'extraterrestrial metal' in 2,700-year-old cemeteries
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Archaeologists have discovered 'extraterrestrial metal' buried in ancient burials in Poland.
They uncovered four artifacts, three bracelets and a pin, containing a metallic iron found only in meteorites.
The pieces were pulled from two Early Iron Age cemeteries, dating between 750 to 600 BC, in southern Poland.
The team used different techniques, including X-rays to peer inside objects and another that uses a beam of electrons to create high-resolution images of objects, to determine the elemental composition of the artifacts.
The results showed high concentrations of smelted ore and meteoric iron that appeared to have come from a single space rock.
The high nickel levels in the iron suggested the jewelry was made from an ataxite meteorite that feature a mirror-like finish.
The researchers also said that the mixing of the iron sources was likely done on purpose to create patterns on the pieces.
If the hypothesis can be proven, it would make these artifacts the the oldest known version of patterned iron.
Archaeologists identified four artifacts from ancient cemeteries that feature iron from a meteorite
Using fallen meteorites to fashion objects was a common practice thousands of years ago, as a similar artifact was found in the tomb of Tutankhamun.
Meteorite iron is found in certain types of stony meteorites, composed mainly of silicates - a salt made of silicon and oxygen.
The discovery was made in Poland's Częstochowa Museum collection by Polish and French scientists who analyzed burial objects from two early Iron Age graveyards, Częstochowa-Raków and Częstochowa-Mirów.
Researchers analyzed the jewelry in the 1960s, but the artifacts were reanalyzed by Professor Albert Jambon a meteorite specialist from Sorbonne University and Dr Karol Dzięgielewski from Jagiellonian University.
'This modest number of specimens nevertheless forms one of the biggest collection of meteoritic iron products at one archaeological site worldwide, they shared in the study.
The team studied a total of 26 artifacts, including bracelets, ankle rings, knives, spearheads, and necklaces, housed at the museum.
Using several analytical techniques, they were able to determine the artifacts' elemental distribution and material composition, Phys.org reported.
This allowed them to identify four pieces were at least partially composed of meteoric iron.
The pieces were pulled from two Early Iron Age cemeteries, dating between 750 to 600 BC, in southern Poland
While only four of the artifacts contained meteoric iron, researches said the discovery is on par with some from ancient Egypt where archaeologists have found troves of pieces dating back 5,000 years
The bracelets were pulled from Częstochowa-Raków cemetery and the pin from Częstochowa-Mirów.
While only four of the artifacts contained meteoric iron, researches said the discovery is on par with some from ancient Egypt where archaeologists have found troves of pieces dating back 5,000 years.
Because the type of meteorite used, the team believes the iron was locally sourced.
'We can conclude that there is a high likelihood that there was a witnessed fall rather than a lucky find,' said Dr Jambon.
'Iron meteorites may be large (hundreds of kg), but this may actually be a problem.
'Large pieces are not workable, and you need to separate small pieces (less than one kg), which is hardly possible with the tools of the Iron Age (see, e.g., the pieces of iron worked by the Inuits).'
Researchers in Spain made a similar discovery in 2024, finding artifacts were made with 'alien metals' 3,000 years ago
Researchers in Spain made a similar discovery in 2024, finding artifacts were made with 'alien metals' 3,000 years ago.
Scientists conducted a new analysis of the Treasure of Villena, a hoard of 59 gold-plated objects found in 1963, finding two objects featured meteoric iron.
A gold-coated cap and bracelet contained the extraterrestrial material from a meteor that crashed into Earth one million years ago, according to the team's estimates.
The artifacts were discovered by archaeologist José Maria Soler in December 1963, while he and his team were excavating a dry river bed called the 'Rambla del Panadero' - about seven miles from Villena.
The study explained that meteorite iron is found in certain types of stony meteorites, composed mainly of silicates - a salt made of silicon and oxygen.
'Since they come from outer space, are composed of an iron-nickel alloy with a variable nickel composition greater than five percent by weight,' researchers wrote.
'They also contain other minor and trace chemical elements, cobalt being one of the most significant.'
Daily Mail
