Journal of Archaeological Science (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2026.106622"> Selection of iron jewels from Late Bronze Age (L). The red dot indicates a Ni-bearing artifact. Credit: Journal of Archaeological Science (2026). DOI: 10.1016/j.jas.2026.106622

Meteorites provided a rare but ready source of iron for ancient Bronze Age cultures before smelting became common. A new study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science , sheds light on how the ancient Minoan and Mycenaean elite used this extraordinary metal and when its popularity declined.

Meteoritic iron in ancient cultures

Previous archaeological studies have identified meteoritic iron in Bronze Age objects from Egypt, the Near East, Europe and Asia. One of the more recent findings was a dagger made from meteorite iron discovered in Pharaoh Tutankhamun's tomb, dating to around the 14th century BCE.…