Article

2023-08-09 Science & Technology

This Bronze Age arrowhead was made from materials out of this world

Reminiscent of the Excalibur myth.
[Jpost] Geologists and historians have discovered an arrowhead constructed from meteoritic iron, a material not naturally found on Earth, according to a new study published in July.

The peer-reviewed study, published in the academic Journal of Archaeological Science, analyzed the arrowhead which was being held in the Bern History Museum.

The arrowhead’s material was found to be partially made of aluminum-26 isotopes, which is a material that is not naturally found on Earth. Further testing showed that metals included an iron and nickel alloy, which has only been detected in meteorites.

WHERE DID THE ARROWHEAD COME FROM?
While it is incredibly likely that the materials of the arrowhead came from space, it is believed that the weapon was once used by Earthlings. More specifically, a group of individuals existed in Mörigen, Lake of Biel in Switzerland during the Bronze Age, from 900-800 BCE.

The Twannberg meteorite had crashed into Earth less than 5 miles from where the arrowhead had been found. However, despite initial theories that this was the source of the material, the concentrations of germanium and nickel on the arrowhead did not match the Twannberg.

Failing to match the arrowhead to the Twannberg meteorite, the researchers began analyzing other meteors that fell during that time period.

Through this analysis, they realized that a meteorite from Estonia was the most likely source for the arrowhead. This proved that there was a large amount of trade occurring throughout the Bronze Age in Central Europe.

Posted by Skidmark 2023-08-09 00:00|| || Front Page|| [11140 views ] Top

#1 ancient, well old' history is fascinating.

Posted by 746 2023-08-09 02:04|| 2023-08-09 02:04|| Front Page Top

#2 Isn't this the element in the story needed to kill the monster?

Posted by Procopius2k 2023-08-09 08:33|| 2023-08-09 08:33|| Front Page Top

#3 'Monster' was Beowulf.

Lady of the Lake [tempering the steel]
Pulling the sword from a stone [smelting]
Was Camelot

Posted by Skidmark 2023-08-09 09:43|| 2023-08-09 09:43|| Front Page Top

#4 I believe this provides positive proof of sleestak existence.

Posted by Super Hose 2023-08-09 10:44|| 2023-08-09 10:44|| Front Page Top

#5 My question is what material did they use to shape the arrowhead?

Posted by Penguin_of_the_Desert 2023-08-09 10:53|| 2023-08-09 10:53|| Front Page Top

#6 The thing is, when you're a primitive gatherer picking up random stuff to try to make a tool, you don't actually know where it came from. Except for, over there on the ground.

Posted by ed in texas 2023-08-09 12:24|| 2023-08-09 12:24|| Front Page Top

#7 Guide to Metal Casting

Posted by Skidmark 2023-08-09 12:26|| 2023-08-09 12:26|| Front Page Top

#8 I just love reading what journalism majors write about science:
*"meteoritic iron, a material not naturally found on Earth" (Well, DUH!)
*"the weapon was once used by Earthlings (DUH and DUH!)

Maybe, it was shot from an Orion phasor!

Posted by Roth LaDoad 2023-08-09 12:46|| 2023-08-09 12:46|| Front Page Top

#9 They found a meteoritic iron dagger in Tutankhamun's tomb.

King Tut's Knife was Out-of-this-World

"My question is what material did they use to shape the arrowhead?"

They took a basalt ball and hammered the iron incessantly till it formed a blade... /sarc

Good question. Meteorite iron items and other outlying iron items start showing up mid Bronze Age. They had a solution.

Same logic can be applied to the first colloquial iron age weapon, since this is the 'first iron weapon" what did they use to shape it.

Still a good question.

Posted by mossomo 2023-08-09 14:17|| 2023-08-09 14:17|| Front Page Top

#10 My question is whether Chaka’s blood was present on the arrowhead.

Posted by Super Hose 2023-08-09 15:51|| 2023-08-09 15:51|| Front Page Top

#11 A workshop. Wakandan aesthetic.
The Princess prints something synthetic,
Is sure she'll make bank
On her fake purple drank:
"Griot! Market as high tech emetic."

Posted by Fester Flomorong3502 2023-08-09 21:46|| 2023-08-09 21:46|| Front Page Top

#12 Er, sorry. Land of the Lost is a complete blind spot for me... and I'm kinda fixated on the horrifyingly bad WF, having finally finished it off last night. Between that and Smollett Country, I'm pretty much walking fast and trying not to make eye contact with me fellow "citizens." Yikes.

Posted by Fester Flomorong3502 2023-08-09 22:07|| 2023-08-09 22:07|| Front Page Top

05:39 Skidmark
05:11 NN2N1
04:50 NN2N1
04:24 Grom the Affective
04:14 Grom the Affective
04:09 Grom the Affective
03:49 Grom the Affective
03:40 Grom the Affective
02:50 Pancho Poodle8452
02:30 Grom the Affective
01:28 Grom the Affective
01:28 Grom the Affective
01:23 Grom the Affective
01:22 Grom the Affective
01:05 Frank G
00:57 Frank G
00:25 DooDahMan
00:18 Bobby
00:16 Skidmark
00:13 Bobby
00:12 Skidmark
00:05 Frank G