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
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.