Deep within ancient chamber tombs where elite members of society in ancient Greece and Crete were once laid to rest, new evidence has emerged that these high-status individuals wore some out-of-this-world iron jewelry.
Among the most coveted jewelry worn in the Bronze Age Mediterranean world were rings that were likely made from extraterrestrial iron, according to a new study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
Researchers Matthieu Gounelle and Eleni Mantzourani used chemical analysis to examine more than 90 iron objects from the Bronze Age and Early Iron Age, uncovered from 33 archaeological sites, revealing that about one-third of the artifacts were likely crafted using iron that fell from space.
Although iron harvested from ancient meteorites accounted for at least 10 of the rings the researchers examined, another three “might deserve further examination,” the study’s authors say, in new observations that indicate these ancient extraterrestrial adornments “may have been popular power symbols among prominent individuals” that included the Mycenaean and Minoan palatial elite.
Yet despite their apparent significance, the otherworldly fashion trend involving these otherworldly rings seems to have mysteriously vanished by the 12th century BCE, for reasons that remain unclear to researchers.
Using portable X-ray fluorescence, or XRF, to assess these rare artifacts in various museums where they are kept, most of the objects were found to contain very little nickel, if any at all. This is consistent with iron produced using smelting processes from the periods in question, which relied on terrestrial ores.
However, 13 of the objects possessed elevated levels of nickel, which hinted at the likelihood that some of these ancient rings had been crafted with metal originating in meteorites, which contain far more nickel than smelted varieties of iron do.
Another intriguing discovery the researchers made was that each artifact suspected of being made from meteoritic iron was either a whole or fragmentary signet or bezel ring, combining the suspected meteoritic iron with gold, silver, or bronze. Most were also found in various chamber tombs alongside other luxury goods, adding to the likelihood that these unique artifacts may have been considered symbols of status or authority.
However, another mystery involves the source of the meteoritic material, which remains uncertain since extraterrestrial iron was uncommon in ancient Greece. Because of this, the team suspects that one reason for this material’s role as a status symbol may have been not just its otherworldly nature, but also the fact that it was likely imported.
“Given the rarity of meteorites in Greece and the established trade networks during the Bronze Age, we propose that the source of the raw meteoritic material was Egypt,” the team writes, “where meteorites are numerous due to the abundance of deserts.”
Several famous examples of meteoritic iron have been recovered from Egypt, which include a dagger found among the items entombed with the Pharaoh Tutankhamun.
The abundance of rings made from this extraterrestrial metal contrasts with the more common iron objects that appear to have been made from smelted material. This suggests that ancient metalworkers recognized the distinction between the materials, and ascribed higher value to the far rarer meteoritic forms of iron.
Curiously, the researchers also found that by around the 12th century BCE, this otherworldly fashion trend appears to have almost completely vanished, and for reasons that remain unclear.
Possible reasons for this may include interruptions to trade networks, political upheaval, or simply changes in trends from the period. However, one potential clue is that the ancient Greeks’ production of meteoritic iron rings seems to have ended coinciding with the collapse of the Mycenaean palace system.
“Such a development could be related to economic, social or political changes,” the team speculates, although they also acknowledge more mundane possibilities.
“It is also possible that the meteoritic finger ring fashion, almost exclusive to Minoan and Mycenaean Late Bronze Age, has ‘naturally’ faded away as does any fashion,” the researchers write.
The recent study, “Iron in Greece in the second millennium B.C.E.,” appeared in the Journal of Archaeological Science.
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. A longtime reporter on science, defense, and technology with a focus on space and astronomy, he can be reached at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow him on X @MicahHanks, and at micahhanks.com.
Bricked inside a fireplace, a lost book survived long after its borrower.
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Apple’s outgoing CEO Tim Cook expressed solidarity with communities hit by the ongoing wildfires across southern Europe and confirmed the company will donate to on-the-ground relief efforts.
In a post on X late Wednesday, Cook wrote: “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in southern Europe. Thank you to the first responders, and to everyone still in harm’s way, please stay safe. Apple will be donating to relief efforts on the ground.”
Our hearts go out to everyone affected by the devastating wildfires in southern Europe. Thank you to the first responders, and to everyone still in harm's way, please stay safe. Apple will be donating to relief efforts on the ground.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 30, 2026
The statement comes amid one of Europe’s most severe wildfire seasons in recent years. Intense heatwaves, dry vegetation, and strong winds have fueled major blazes in France, Spain, Greece, and other areas, burning hundreds of thousands of hectares, forcing hundreds of thousands of people to evacuate, and claiming lives including multiple firefighters.
In southwestern France, a large fire near Bordeaux has scorched around 42,000 hectares of pine forest, prompting the evacuation of roughly 220,000 residents and vacationers at its peak (with many later allowed to return as conditions eased somewhat). France has already recorded its highest wildfire-burned area in years, surpassing previous full-year totals with summer still underway.
Spain has faced its largest wildfire on record west of Madrid (in the Ávila region and surroundings), with total burned area across the country exceeding 200,000 hectares according to European data. Evacuations affected tens of thousands, and new outbreaks continued in provinces including Zamora, León, and Castellón.
In Greece, fires on Crete and elsewhere killed three firefighters and forced tourists and residents to flee, some by boat. Broader European Forest Fire Information System figures show far-above-average burned area and number of fires so far in 2026, driven by successive heatwaves that have left vegetation highly flammable.
Cook’s message follows Apple’s established pattern of offering financial support after major disasters without publicly disclosing exact donation amounts. Similar statements and aid have been issued after other recent crises.
MacDailyNews Note: As temperatures remain elevated and fire weather risks persist (particularly shifting eastward toward Italy and Greece in coming weeks) emergency crews continue battling the blazes while residents and responders face ongoing threats. Apple’s planned contribution aims to assist those recovery and relief operations already underway.
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For as long as readers have pored over Homer’s Odyssey they have pictured Ithaca, the homeland Odysseus fights for ten years to reach, as an island unto itself.
The post Was Odysseus’ Ithaca Never an Island? Scholars Challenge Centuries-Old Assumption appeared first on Sci.News: Breaking Science News.
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