Gift from Heaven: The Famous Gold Treasure - Actually Made of Meteorite Steel
Two iron pieces from a treasure hoard uncovered in 1963 near the town of Villena in southeastern Spain have been identified as meteoritic iron. The researchers: "These are the first two items attributed to meteoritic…
Assessment
A famous gold hoard discovered in 1963 near Villena, Spain, turns out to contain two iron pieces made from meteorite metal. Researchers say these are the first meteoritic iron items identified on the Iberian Peninsula. The finding rewrites assumptions about ancient metalworking skills and explains how iron appeared centuries before local smelting technology existed. Watch for further analysis of other artifacts in the hoard that may also be meteoritic.