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Villena Treasure

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Ancient Iberian Hoard Uncovers Meteorite Iron Forged Before Iron Age
science9 days ago

Ancient Iberian Hoard Uncovers Meteorite Iron Forged Before Iron Age

Researchers analyzing two corroded iron pieces from the 3,000-year-old Treasure of Villena in Spain determined they are meteoritic iron, making them the first such objects identified on the Iberian Peninsula and evidence of iron from space centuries before terrestrial iron smelting began. Nickel-rich signatures and other chemical markers support a extraterrestrial origin despite heavy corrosion; researchers caution that non-invasive follow-up is needed to strengthen the findings.

Bronze Age Iberia Unearths Meteoric Iron in Treasure of Villena
archaeology11 days ago

Bronze Age Iberia Unearths Meteoric Iron in Treasure of Villena

Testing two ferrous-looking pieces from Spain's Treasure of Villena (c. 1400–1200 BCE) indicates they were made from meteoritic iron, inferred from elevated nickel content measured by mass spectrometry; this places meteoritic iron among Iberian Bronze Age metalwork and suggests ironworking began earlier in Iberia than previously thought, though corrosion limits conclusive proof and further non-invasive analyses are planned.

Meteoric Iron Rewrites Iberian Bronze Age Metalwork
science4 months ago

Meteoric Iron Rewrites Iberian Bronze Age Metalwork

Testing two ferrous-looking items from the Villena Treasure—the hollow iron hemisphere and a bracelet—found evidence they are made of meteoritic iron, indicated by nickel content measured despite heavy corrosion. Dating places them around 1400–1200 BCE, earlier than the Iberian Iron Age’s terrestrial iron production (~850 BCE), suggesting advanced metallurgical skills in Iberia over 3,000 years ago. While the results are not conclusive due to corrosion, non-invasive methods could further confirm the meteoritic origin and timing.

"3000-Year-Old Treasure Reveals Extraterrestrial Metal Crafting, Scientists Confirm"
archaeology2 years ago

"3000-Year-Old Treasure Reveals Extraterrestrial Metal Crafting, Scientists Confirm"

Spanish researchers have found that two iron artifacts from a hoard of precious treasure dating back to the Late Bronze Age contain iron from meteorites estimated to be around 1 million years old. The artifacts, part of the Villena Treasure, have long puzzled researchers due to their chronology predating the widespread smelting of iron. Analysis using a spectrometer strongly suggests the iron came from space, shedding new light on ancient metallurgy practices and prompting further investigation into the origins of the extraterrestrial material.

"Bronze Age Treasure: Extraterrestrial Metal Unearthed on the Iberian Peninsula"
archaeology2 years ago

"Bronze Age Treasure: Extraterrestrial Metal Unearthed on the Iberian Peninsula"

The Villena Treasure, a remarkable Bronze Age collection found in Spain, contains artifacts made with iron from a meteorite that crashed into Earth about a million years ago. Recent research has revealed that two of the iron objects in the treasure were crafted from extraterrestrial material, shedding light on Late Bronze Age metallurgical practices and demonstrating how ancient cultures innovated with new technologies. These artifacts not only serve as historical treasures but also provide insight into the development of new technologies and societal evolution, making them the first and oldest meteoritic iron artifacts discovered on the Iberian Peninsula.