Bronze Age elite may have worn jewelry made of meteoritic iron, scientists find

Scientists have discovered that representatives of the Bronze Age elite may have worn jewelry made of meteoritic iron, Report informs, citing Heritage Daily.

Researchers found traces of extraterrestrial metal in ancient jewelry discovered in wealthy burials across southern Greece and Crete.

Specialists from the University of Athens examined 91 iron artifacts aged between 3,000 and 4,000 years. Using X-ray fluorescence, they determined the chemical composition of the finds without damaging the items. An elevated nickel content-a characteristic sign of meteoritic iron-was detected in 13 objects.

Researchers classified ten iron signet rings as items made of meteoritic metal with high probability. Craftsmen of the Minoan and Mycenaean civilizations additionally coated such jewelry with gold and silver, emphasizing their exceptional value.

Since meteorites extremely rarely fell in the coastal areas of Greece, and most celestial bodies likely landed in the sea, scientists suggest that meteoritic iron entered the region via trade routes. Ancient Egypt, where space iron was easier to find in deserts, is considered one of the possible sources.