New research suggests that parts of the “Treasure of Villena,” a significant find from the European Bronze Age, may have originated from meteorites.

Discovered in 1963, the treasure includes gold and silver items, but the presence of iron objects caused dating challenges, as iron typically wasn’t used until the Iron Age.

However, analysis of the iron revealed it likely came from a meteorite, not terrestrial sources, based on its nickel content, matching that of known meteorites like Mundrabilla, IFL Science has reported.

This finding supports a Late Bronze Age date for the treasure, around 1200 BCE, before widespread iron production began.

Written by B.C. Begley