A remarkable discovery has been scheduled for release in the September edition of the Journal of Archaeological Science. According to the study, a 3,000-year-old arrowhead unearthed in Mörigen, Switzerland, was found to be crafted from materials originating in outer space.
The analysis of the arrowhead, which was initially assumed to be made from remnants of a 170,000-year-old Twannberg meteorite, took an unexpected turn.
By utilizing advanced methodologies like X-ray tomography and gamma spectrometry, the research team found that elements such as nickel and germanium did not match those of the Twannberg meteorite.
After comparing the elements with other crashed space rocks, the arrowhead’s origins were traced to the Kaalijarv meteorite site in Estonia, more than 1,400 miles away.
The arrowhead’s substantial size has drawn attention since images were shared online. Only 55 such meteoric arrowheads have been known to exist within Europe and Africa, with their presence identified at just 22 archaeological sites.
Lead author Beda Hofmann shed light on the significance of this discovery, saying, “It’s been well documented that trade was well established over large distances during the Bronze Age.”
“These early people likely knew that when the impact happened there in 1,500 B.C., the material was precious and had value to it,” he continued.
This extraordinary archaeological find offers a unique glimpse into our past, serving as a reminder that curiosity and exploration have been a part of human nature since time immemorial.