This Arrowhead Was Made From a Meteorite 3000 Years Ago

September 1, 2023 10:00 PM

This Arrowhead Was Made From a Meteorite 3000 Years Ago. Found in Switzerland, the 1.5-inch-long artifact was fashioned from meteoric iron during the Bronze Age.
posted by chariot pulled by cassowaries (13 comments total)

This is SO COOL. sky iron.
posted by capnsue at 11:42 PM on September 1, 2023 [1 favorite]

Skyron
posted by aubilenon at 11:54 PM on September 1, 2023

Antient trade is something else! A History of the World in 100 Objects by Neil MacGregor director of the British Museum includes . . . Object 14 [14m podcast] a ceremonial jade axe which was found near Canterbury having been transported there 6000 years ago. The most extraordinary element of the tale is that scientific archaeologists Pierre and Anne-Marie Pétrequin were able to locate the source for the axe to a particular boulder 2000m up in the Italian Apennines and show that another axe found in Dorset was a chip off the same block!
posted by BobTheScientist at 12:24 AM on September 2, 2023 [18 favorites]

At least now we know what to do if Ganon shows up.
posted by Scattercat at 1:50 AM on September 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

Hope they at least got something with it. It would be a shame if it missed and was lost or something. Sky god material used once, it missed, worthless.
posted by zengargoyle at 3:42 AM on September 2, 2023

I'm wondering how they shaped it.
posted by Nancy Lebovitz at 4:30 AM on September 2, 2023

"This sword was forged from a fallen star."
posted by Johnny Assay at 4:41 AM on September 2, 2023 [3 favorites]

Argggh, I thought that was going to be from Avatar the Last Airbender when Sokka makes/looses his space sword. Sadly google has failed me in finding the moment the sword it lost.

Many videos about how meteors are generally bad sources for iron.... given it's the bronze age and shit.

All I can say is that the arrowhead is no Stormbringer or some poor soul would still be stuck with it. Probably a shitty arrowhead to begin with, made before it's time.
posted by zengargoyle at 5:58 AM on September 2, 2023

+1 Arrow of Piercing found in mountain tomb. Searchers rolling perception checks for further loot.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 7:56 AM on September 2, 2023 [2 favorites]

Those Arabic numerals have held up pretty well over 3000 years…
posted by TheDonF at 8:15 AM on September 2, 2023

It was used to defend a lake town, clearly.

“Arrow!" said the bowman. "Black arrow! I have saved you to the last. You have never failed me and always I have recovered you. I had you from my father and he from of old. If ever you came from the forges of the true king under the Mountain, go now and speed well!"
posted by ursus_comiter at 8:23 AM on September 2, 2023 [7 favorites]

If only they had forged a sword out of it...
posted by techSupp0rt at 8:32 AM on September 2, 2023 [1 favorite]

Very cool. Thanks for the post.
posted by bluesky43 at 10:00 AM on September 2, 2023