All articles tagged with #villena treasure
Researchers discovered that two corroded artifacts from the 1200-1400 BCE Villena Treasure in Spain are made from meteoritic iron, indicating advanced metalworking techniques involving meteorite material in Iberia over 3,000 years ago.
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.
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.