Amidst a dazzling trove of golden artifacts from the Iberian Bronze Age, two unassuming objects – a corroded bracelet and a rusted, gold-decorated hemisphere – are rewriting the history books. Researchers have discovered that these items weren’t crafted from terrestrial metal, but from iron sourced from meteorites – gifts from the cosmos, fallen to Earth millennia ago. This revelation, unveiled in a paper led by Salvador Rovira-Llorens, the now-retired conservation head at the National Archeological Museum Spain, suggests that metalworking in Iberia over 3,000 years ago was far more sophisticated than previously imagined.

The Treasure of Villena, unearthed in 1963 near Alicante, Spain, comprises 66 predominantly gold objects. It’s celebrated as a pinnacle of Bronze Age goldsmithing in the Iberian Peninsula and arguably, Europe. However, dating the collection precisely has been hampered by the enigmatic nature of two specific pieces: the small hemisphere, possibly part of a scepter or sword hilt, and the bracelet. Both exhibit a distinctly « ferrous » appearance, suggesting they’re made of iron.

Here’s where the mystery deepens. The Iron Age, characterized by the widespread use of smelted terrestrial iron, didn’t dawn in the Iberian Peninsula until around 850 BCE. Yet, the gold artifacts within the Treasure of Villena have been dated to between 1500 and 1200 BCE. This discrepancy posed a significant archaeological puzzle: how could these iron-looking objects coexist with Bronze Age gold?

The answer, it turns out, lies beyond our planet. Earth’s crust isn’t the only source of workable iron. Pre-Iron Age artifacts made from meteoritic iron have been found worldwide. Perhaps the most iconic is Tutankhamun’s meteorite iron dagger. These cosmic artifacts were highly valued, almost revered.

Distinguishing between terrestrial and meteoritic iron hinges on one key element: nickel. Meteoritic iron boasts a significantly higher nickel content than iron extracted from Earth’s ore. Armed with this knowledge, researchers sought permission to analyze the Villena artifacts, hoping to unlock their secrets by determining their nickel content.

Using mass spectrometry, a technique to identify the composition of a sample by measuring the mass-to-charge ratio of its ions, they carefully analyzed samples from both the hemisphere and the bracelet. Despite the extensive corrosion, which inevitably alters an artifact’s elemental composition, the results strongly indicated that both objects were forged from meteoritic iron. In mass spectrometry, a sample is ionized, and these ions are then separated and detected based on their mass-to-charge ratio. This allows scientists to identify the different elements and isotopes present in the sample, even in trace amounts.

This discovery elegantly resolves the dating conundrum. The iron objects align perfectly with the Bronze Age timeframe, placing their creation between 1400 and 1200 BCE. « The available data suggest that the cap and bracelet from the Treasure of Villena would currently be the first two pieces attributable to meteoritic iron in the Iberian Peninsula, » the researchers state in their paper, « which is compatible with a Late Bronze chronology, prior to the beginning of the widespread production of terrestrial iron. »

While the advanced state of corrosion prevents definitive conclusions, the researchers advocate for employing newer, non-invasive techniques. These could provide a more detailed analysis, further solidifying their findings. The research has been published in Trabajos de Prehistoria.

This discovery not only enriches our understanding of Iberian Bronze Age craftsmanship but also highlights the ingenuity and resourcefulness of ancient artisans who recognized the unique properties and value of materials fallen from the stars. It’s a testament to their ability to harness the cosmos itself, transforming meteorites into objects of both beauty and significance – a truly cosmic irony.

Cet article a été fait a partir de ces articles:

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