Meteorites are associated in our minds with destruction and extinction, but in ancient times they were a source of power and prestige.
According to a study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, researchers, after a five-year expedition, revealed that the Mycenaeans and the Mycenaeans, or Minoans , the oldest Greek civilizations, used meteoric iron to make elegant rings containing precious metals such as gold and silver, and including upper parts that may have borne royal seals. Most of these rings were found in luxurious burial sites, such as the Mycenaean tombs, and one of them was discovered in a Minoan tomb, still adorning the finger of a high-ranking priest.
By analyzing the chemical composition of more than 100 Bronze Age and early Iron Age artifacts, housed in 19 museums around the world and extracted from 33 archaeological sites in Greece, using a non-destructive X-ray technique, researchers identified 13 pieces containing nickel, indicating that they were made of meteoric iron. All of them were rings, leading them to believe that these rings were popular symbols of power among the elite in those civilizations.
Researchers believe that the meteoric iron was imported from Egypt as a raw material – although there is no conclusive evidence yet of where the original meteorites were found – because the terrain of Greece is unsuitable for preserving meteorites, as the humid climate causes the iron to erode quickly, while the dry Egyptian deserts protect them from erosion and are more suitable for their accumulation.
The researchers also found that 78 of the iron pieces used molten iron, and these molten pieces appeared as early as 1400 BC, although only two (a necklace and a ring) were made before 1200 BC.
The use of manufactured iron appears to have been delayed in Greece compared to Anatolia, with some pieces possibly being imported from Cyprus. The fashion for meteorite rings persisted until around 1200 BC, then faded for possible reasons such as supply difficulties, declining demand, or simply changing tastes. Researchers conclude that this fashion, which was almost exclusive to the Late Bronze Age, faded naturally, as happens with any fashion trend.
