Mysterious jewellery made from alien world metal found in 3,000-year-old treasure
A stunning archaeological discovery in Spain is rewriting the story of
ancient metalworking
. Hidden within the famed
Treasure of Villena
, researchers have discovered two iron artifacts crafted from a substance
meteoritic iron
that does not belong to the Earth. It is a rare metal that arrived on Earth via falling space rocks. The treasure which dates back over 3,000 years, includes a bracelet and a decorative hemisphere. Both of the objects are made from
extraterrestrial material
. This surprising find predates the known start of the Iron Age in Iberia and reveals early humans' advanced use of celestial metals.
Scientists discovered alien world metal jewellery
The treasure was discovered in 1963 in Alicante, Spain. The Treasure of Villena consists of 66 stunning artifacts, mostly gold, from the late Bronze Age. But among them unusual iron items—a bracelet and a small dome—stood out. Their iron composition seemed out of place for an era that hadn't yet embraced iron tools or ornaments.
What is the source of alien metal
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
Researchers led by Salvador Rovira-Llorens, former conservation head at Spain's National Archaeological Museum, tested the artifacts using mass spectrometry. They found the iron was rich in nickel which is a distinct marker of meteoritic origin. Unlike iron mined from Earth, this variety falls from space and makes these items some of the earliest known examples of space metal used by humans.
Redefining Iberian metallurgy
These artifacts date to between 1400 and 1200 BCE, nearly 500 years before the Iron Age began in Iberia around 850 BCE. The discovery challenges established timelines and suggests that ancient Iberians not only encountered meteoritic iron but also recognized its value and developed methods to shape artefacts and jewellery.
Significance of meteorite iron
Meteoritic iron was used in other ancient cultures like Egypt's Tutankhamun's dagger. Similarly, the Iberians may have regarded this 'metal from the heavens' as special. The items may have carried ritual or symbolic meaning, possibly worn or wielded by elite members of society.
A first for Iberian archaeology
This is the first recorded use of meteoritic iron in Iberia. The artifacts offer a rare glimpse into Bronze Age innovation. Published in Trabajos de Prehistoria, the discovery has opened the door to more non-invasive tests that could uncover further secrets from the stars that are locked within Earth's oldest treasures.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
3 hours ago
- Time of India
‘Forthcoming mass extinction will be the first one engineered by humans'
Chennai: If one were to write the history of humankind from a climatic perspective, it would have a pre-2024 era and a post-2024 era. A rapid increase in carbon levels in the atmosphere posed serious threats to the environment, calling for immediate redress, Poovulagin Nanbargal coordinator G Sundarrajan said here on Saturday. In the last 10,000 years, the current juncture of existence was the most crucial as humankind faced five risks simultaneously for the first time — climate change, mass extinction, spread of diseases/infections such as Covid-19, pollution, and inequality. "There have been mass extinctions before as well. But the forthcoming mass extinction [of a species] will be the first one to be engineered by humans," Sundarrajan said at an editors' meet on climate change, organised at Anna Centenary Library. He stressed the need for holistic coverage of climate change by the media and offered suggestions to spread awareness among the public. He called for setting up a "climate desk" in all media organisations to come out with news stories pertaining to climate change. "All forms of news must be approached from a climate change angle, and news about the marginalized, who are most affected by global warming, must be given more coverage," it said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Forget Furosemide, Use This Household Item To Help Drain Edema Fluid WellnessGuide Learn more Undo Projects and technologies proposed as solutions to climate change must be critically examined for their authenticity. False solutions must be identified and called out, he said. Melting of glaciers, rise in global average temperature in a short time, and gender and caste aspects of climate change were discussed at the meeting. The event was held in coordination with the Chennai Press Club. Poovulagin Nanbargal presented one copy of each of its published books to the club's president, Suresh Vedanayagam.
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
UP surpasses nat'l avg in language, math competency for Class 3 students
Lucknow: After taking a big leap forward in the school performance index, UP has made significant strides in learning outcomes. The PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024, which evaluates the effectiveness of the school education system by assessing competencies at various educational stages, shows that Class 3 children in UP have not only improved their performance, but also surpassed the national average. The report shared by the Union Ministry of Education with the state govt shows 68% of Class 3 children in UP are competent in language and 64% in mathematics, while the national average for the two stands at 64% and 60%, respectively. Education officials said in 2021, 55% of Class 3 students were competent in language and mathematics and were below the national average of 59%. According to the document shared by the education department, districts like Kasganj, Shamli, Auraiya, Ambedkar Nagar and Mahoba emerged as top performers in Class 3. The assessment was also carried out for Classes 6 and 9, where steady improvements were visible too. The report shows 55% of Class 6 girls were competent in language against the national average of 57%, while 45% were proficient in mathematics against the national average of 46%. The top-performing districts in the Class 6 category include Kanpur, Shravasti, Kasganj, Shamli and Aligarh. UP also made notable progress in Class 9 results. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investire è più facile che mai BG SAXO Scopri di più Undo While 38% of students did well in science against the national average of 40%, 34% performed in mathematics against the national average of 37%, and 37% qualified in social sciences against the national average of 40%. Districts such as Varanasi, Kanpur Nagar, Ayodhya, Prayagraj and Shamli recorded the highest performances in Class 9. The pan-India report will be released on July 2. Basic education minister Sandeep Singh said, "UP's performance in the PARAKH National Survey 2024 is a testimony to the fact that when policy, planning, and execution are well-balanced, even the largest states can set benchmarks in education. This is not just a success in numbers, but proof of deep-rooted educational reforms happening at the grassroots level. We are confident that in the coming years, this transformation will become more widespread and robust. "
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Kidney transplant turns dangerous after parasite found in donor organ
A routine kidney transplant meant to save a man's life nearly cost him everything—because of a parasite no one saw coming. Two months after undergoing what should have been a life-improving surgery, a 61-year-old man was rushed back to the hospital in distress. He wasn't just feeling unwell—he was vomiting, severely fatigued, constantly thirsty, and urinating excessively. As his symptoms escalated, his oxygen levels dropped and fluid began to accumulate in his lungs. Despite being placed on a feeding tube, his condition worsened. Doctors transferred him to intensive care and began a frantic search for answers. According to a detailed case report in the New England Journal of Medicine, physicians at Massachusetts General Hospital suspected an infection but were faced with a daunting challenge: the man was on powerful immunosuppressive drugs following his transplant, which meant nearly any infectious agent could be the cause. What did they find? Dr. Camille Kotton, Clinical Director of the Transplant and Immunocompromised Host Infectious Diseases division at Mass General, was part of the team trying to find the cause. As reported by Ars Technica, she began by ruling out likely viral infections, since the patient was already on preventative medications. But when she noticed two unusual signs—a significant rise in eosinophils (a type of white blood cell linked to parasitic infections) and a reddish-purple rash on the patient's abdomen—her attention turned toward a lesser-considered threat: a parasitic roundworm called Strongyloides. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo This worm typically infects the gastrointestinal tract and can become deadly when undiagnosed in immunocompromised individuals. To follow her hunch, Dr. Kotton contacted the organ-procurement organization and learned that the donor had lived in the Caribbean, a region where Strongyloides is endemic. The donor's blood hadn't been tested for the parasite prior to organ recovery, but stored samples later revealed antibodies against it. Meanwhile, the transplant recipient's pre-transplant blood was negative—confirming that the infection had come from the donor. What was the path to recovery? T ests soon uncovered worm larvae in the patient's lungs and stool. The treatment required ivermectin, a deworming medication approved by the FDA only for oral use in humans. With special approval, doctors administered the drug subcutaneously. Slowly, the patient began to recover. Then came another shock: the recipient of the donor's other kidney had also fallen critically ill. When doctors exchanged notes, they found the same parasite at work. Fortunately, both patients survived. In response to the case, the United Network for Organ Sharing has since revised its transplant screening guidelines, now recommending universal Strongyloides testing for donors from high-risk regions. The case serves as a stark reminder that even life-saving procedures can carry hidden dangers—and that vigilance doesn't end with the operating room. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
