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Bronze Age Nobles Wore Rare Meteoric-Iron Signet Rings

8/9/2026

Summary

Story summary

Archaeologist Eleni Mantzourani (University of Athens) and astrophysicist Matthieu Gounelle (French Natural History Museum) found nobles wore meteoric-iron signet rings.
Analysis of 91 artifacts found nickel in 13 signet rings, estimating ten were meteoric, while X-ray fluorescence on 33 sites dated 3,000-4,000 years ago showed most lacked nickel, indicating smelting and an Egyptian source.
No meteoric-iron rings appear after the 12th century B.C., implying the fashion ended with the Late Bronze Age collapse.

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Story summary

Archaeologist Eleni Mantzourani (University of Athens) and astrophysicist Matthieu Gounelle (French Natural History Museum) found nobles wore meteoric-iron signet rings.
Analysis of 91 artifacts found nickel in 13 signet rings, estimating ten were meteoric, while X-ray fluorescence on 33 sites dated 3,000-4,000 years ago showed most lacked nickel, indicating smelting and an Egyptian source.
No meteoric-iron rings appear after the 12th century B.C., implying the fashion ended with the Late Bronze Age collapse.