King Tut’s Dagger Made of ‘Iron From the Sky,’ Researchers Say

Researchers have determined that the iron blade of a dagger buried in Egypt with King Tutankhamen probably came from a fallen meteorite. This iron and blade was highly praised by the Egyptians that they called it "iron from the sky". This particular dagger has long interested historians and archaeologists because of its shear beauty and marvelous mystery of creation and ironwork. With the use of X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry, both Egyptaian and Italian experts have concluded that the blade's composition of iron, nickel and cobalt are an approximate match for a meteorite that landed in Northern Egypt. These results "strongly suggests an extraterrestrial origin" for the dagger's blade and these findings could add to secrets that have been unlocked from ancient tombs that are still seen as global fascinations since the dagger's findings in 1925. These findings might also help explain why, from the 13th century B.C., Egyptians started using a hieroglyph that translates as “iron from the sky,” from 13th century BC

Hailey Brzoska

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/06/03/world/middleeast/king-tuts-dagger-made-of-iron-from-the-sky-researchers-say.html