New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

show ad

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made from gold, gems and 5,000-year-old meteorites
Egyptians created beads by hammering meteorites into thin sheets These sheets where then rolled into tubes to create 'beads' Meteorite beads predated the discovery of iron ore by 2,000 years They may also have shaped the ancient people's religious beliefs
By Victoria Woollaston PUBLISHED: 09:45 GMT, 20 August 2013 | UPDATED: 09:47 GMT, 20 August 2013

469 shares 1 View comments

Beads discovered on a necklace that was first excavated in 1911 have finally been confirmed as being made from space rock. Researchers from the University College London's Petrie Museum conducted detailed analysis of the necklace using gamma rays and have been able to prove that the beads, originally believed to be made from iron, were in fact created using fragments of meteorites. The analysis is also the first time scientists have been able to assess how the beads were formed and it is thought that the Egyptians used the technique of smithing and rolling, which involved hammering the rock several times until it could be flattened and then rolled to form the bead-shaped tubes.

1 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

Researchers from the University College London's Petrie Museum conducted detailed analysis of beads and necklaces, pictured, first uncovered in 1911. They used gamma ray scans to prove that the beads, originally believed to be made from iron, were in fact created using fragments of meteorites

The analysis is the first time scientists have been able to assess how the beads were formed and it is thought that the Egyptians used the technique of smithing and rolling, which involved hammering the rock several times until it could be flattened and then rolled to form the bead-shaped tubes

Egyptologists from the Open University first scanned beads found in a pre-dynastic cemetery near the village of el-Gerzeh, in Lower Egypt in May, using scanning electron microscopy and computed tomography. The nickel content of this original metal was found to be high, suggesting that it could have come from a meteorite. The researcher also observed that the metal had a distinctive crystalline structure called a Widmansttten pattern. This structure is found only in iron meteorites that cooled extremely slowly inside their parent asteroids as the solar system was forming. They found areas where the weathered surface had fallen away, providing what has been described as 'little

2 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

windows' to the preserved metal beneath. Researchers from UCL's Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology then used non-invasive neutrons and gamma rays to detect the exact level of nickel and phosphorous in these Egyptian beads. Lead author of the Journal of Archaeological Science study, Professor Thilo Rehren said that the beads were created by 'multiple cycles of hammering' and not by the traditional carving or drilling stone techniques that were used on other beads found in the same tomb.

Open and Manchester Universities first discovered that the beads contained nickel in May. This image shows a series of scans taken of the iron bead that unlocked the mystery surrounding the presence of iron among the ancient Egyptians. It also poses exciting questions about the way the cosmos influenced their religion

He told Culture24: 'The really exciting outcome of this research is that we were for the first time able to demonstrate conclusively that there are typical trace elements such as cobalt and germanium present in these beads, at levels that only occur in meteoritic iron.' It is also the first time researchers have been able to study the internal structure of the beads to reveal how they were created - showing an advanced knowledge and skill of metal work. The discovery additionally unearths a glimpse of the genesis of the ancient Egyptians' religion and the divine attributes they attached to meteorites. 'The sky was very important to the ancient Egyptians,' said Joyce Tyldesley, an Egyptologist at the University of Manchester, UK, and a co-author of the paper on the discovery. 'Something that falls from the sky is going to be considered as a gift from the gods.' Dating from 3350 to 3600 BC, thousands of years before Egypts Iron Age, the bead analysed was originally assumed to be from a meteorite owing to its composition of nickel-rich iron. But this hypothesis was challenged in the 1980s when academics proposed that much of the early worldwide examples of iron use originally thought to be of meteorite-origin were actually early smelting attempts.

3 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

The ancient Egyptians would have seen a meteorite as an offering from the gods and this suggests the jewellery may have been created as gifts for royalty or people of high standing

Philip Withers, Professor of Materials Science at The University of Manchester, added: 'Meteorites have a unique microstructural and chemical fingerprint because they cooled incredibly slowly as they travelled through space. 'It was really interesting to find that fingerprint turn up in Egyptian artefacts.' Meteorite iron had profound implications for the ancient Egyptians, both in their perception of the iron in the context of its celestial origin and in early metallurgy attempts. Dr Tyldesley added: 'Today, we see iron first and foremost as a practical, rather dull metal. To the ancient Egyptians, however, it was a rare and beautiful material which, as it fell from the sky, surely had some magical/religious properties. 'They therefore used this remarkable metal to create small objects of beauty and religious significance which were so important to them that they chose to include them in their graves.'

MOST WATCHED NEWS VIDEOS

Previous 1 2 3 Next

4 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

Newsreader's daughter interrupts live TV report

Baby North pic unveiled for the first time on Kris

Skater gets punched for accidentally running into little boy

Katie Hopkins has blazing row over competitive mums on...

Tourists terrified as Russian military ship ploughs into...

Powerful waves injures dozens in China

British women accused of smuggling drugs arrive at new...

Sultry Sydney Leathers in porno promo for 'Weiner and Me'

5 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

Horrifying moment man accidentally shoots dead friend at...

VIDEO: Feisty young leopard fights for crocodile's impala...

Jamelia Humphreys angry at police dealing with landlord's...

Moment motorcyclist CRASHES into a BEAR

MOST READ NEWS

Previous 1 2 3 Next

The tyrant who forces mothers to drown their babies:...

100 applied for a job at my firm - but not one decided to...

REVEALED: This is the porn star who has brought the adult...

6 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

Judge orders Muslim woman to remove burkha during court...

British women suspected of smuggling 1.5m of cocaine out of...

We're off! Millions on the move as bank holiday begins but...

Hope they did well in home economics! 16-year-old pupils...

Inside the life of a playboy (and his many bunnies): Rare...

Tearaway teenage mother who starred in Channel 4 documentary...

It's Red Dave! The sunburnt PM and a tussle with a towel:...

The puppy farm that melted A-list hearts: Hollywood actors...

7 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

Welcome to paradise? Thailand's monthly Full Moon Party...

Comments (1)
Newest Oldest Best rated Worst rated View all The divine hand was evident in the world even before humanity understood His work through the sacrifice of His holy son. - TimothyQ , Norwich, United Kingdom, 20/8/2013 11:05 Click to rate Report abuse Share this comment The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Rating 155

Like MailOnline Today's headlines Most Read

Follow @MailOnline

The ultimate home cinema: Convertible house unfolds in 90 minutes to turn into a 100-seater venue How scientists BOTTLED the Northern Lights: Glass dome captures Earth's most colourful light show Return of the Polaroid: Fujifilm resurrects iconic camera to print card-sized photos instantly Life at a snail's pace: Video reveals why they piggyback one another, how they hijack slime - and top speeds of one metre an hour Murder the 14th Century way: Aristocrat's POISON RING could deliver a deadly dose to a political rival's wine goblet Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer makes 'surprise' exit from company - sending shares rising by almost 6% Scientists discover the world's oldest globe of the New World - carved on OSTRICH eggs (and it could have been crafted in Leonardo da Vinci's workshop) Hacker pilots a drone with Google Glass using just his head movements Selfies are 'damaging' and leave young people vulnerable to abuse, claims psychologist Does working long hours make you a bad father? Men who do overtime are more likely to have 'delinquent and aggressive' sons EBay users lose out on sales and are locked out of their accounts for hours as 'site maintenance' overruns How Princess Diana, Neil Diamond and Tiger Woods can help improve your memory: Expert reveals the secrets behind his incredible powers of recall Dream Chaser 'space taxi' - that could one day give astronauts a lift to the International Space Station - hitches a ride on a helicopter to test its equipment Forget sleep walking - now people are TEXTING in the night: Rise in number of people who use their phone while asleep Why a problem shared is a problem DOUBLED: Empathy is so strong in humans that we confuse our friends' worries with our own Addicted to Facebook? Shocking device ELECTROCUTES social network users to help break the habit MORE HEADLINES How Princess Diana, Neil Diamond and Tiger Woods can help improve your memory: Expert reveals the secrets behind his incredible powers of recall Could marijuana be GOOD for mental health? Breakthrough study claims the drug could be used to help treat depression Invasion of the flying ants: Billions of the insects have been taking to the skies after humid end to the summer It took 30 years to get off the ground but the jetpack is finally ready for takeoff (but it'll set you back 160,000) How 900-year-old African coins found in Australia may finally solve the mystery of who arrived Down Under first Apple's iPhone 5S will come with TWO flashes to make photos look more professional, while the low-cost iPhone C will be scratch-resistant Return of the Polaroid: Fujifilm resurrects iconic camera to print card-sized photos instantly

8 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

Life at a snail's pace: Video reveals why they piggyback one another, how they hijack slime - and top speeds of one metre an hour The eerie song that played while the Titanic sunk: Music from toy pig that comforted children is recorded for the first time after scientists repair it Forget sleep walking - now people are TEXTING in the night: Rise in number of people who use their phone while asleep Will Google start tracking your eye movements in return for cash? Company could see which ads you look at while wearing Google Glass Who needs coffee? Sprayable Energy claims to provide a caffeine kick with just a quick spritz on the skin Incredible time-lapse satellite video shows 10 YEARS of weather in just 3 minutes - including hurricane Katrina Call of the MILD: Wolves howl to show they care when their friend or mate leaves the pack Keeping it in the family: How nepotism in the workplace helps the rich stay wealthy Dream Chaser 'space taxi' - that could one day give astronauts a lift to the International Space Station - hitches a ride on a helicopter to test its equipment MOST READ IN DETAIL

GADGET REVIEWS
Gadget review: Samsung Galaxy S4 phone At the end of July Samsung overtook Apple to become the world's most profitable mobile phone company. We look at the S4 to see why it's so popular. Gadget of the week: Lepow Moonstone 6000 mobile power bank Ever been out and about and your phone's run out of juice? Of course you have. The Lepow Moonstone 6000mAh portable powerbank could be a lifesaver. Yurbuds Ironman Series headphones The selling point of the Yurbuds are that they don't fall out. Which on the face of it, given that headphones are meant to stay in your ears, doesn't seem that big a deal. Gadget of the week: Kansi 9twenty folding bike Feast your eyes on the Kansi 9twenty - one of a range of four bikes on the market in the UK - highly functional and fab looking. Well worth the asking price. Philips In Sight wireless home monitor The Philips In Sight wireless home monitor is a brilliant way of keeping track of your home. Place it in any room and watch a live video feed from your smartphone. Sennheiser Momentum over-ear headphones Quality comes at a price, but not as much as youd think. The Momentums blend state-of-the-art design and materials with cutting-edge sound. Philips ActionFit sports headband I've always been skeptical about sports headphones that aren't in-ear. The pairs I have owned have either been uncomfortable or too loose. WeSC Piston headphones At 40, these WeSC Piston headphones seem somewhat of a bargain. Sadly, although their looks will win over fans, audio sounds muffled whatever the volume. LifeProof iPhone case Cracking your iPhone screen is one of the most annoying things you can do. Thankfully, the new LifeProof iPhone case will make this a thing of the past. Turtle Beach Ear Force PX22 gaming headphones Gaming headsets can be costly. And at 69.99, the Ear Force PX22 comes in at the cheaper end of the spectrum. Thankfully, its sound still packs a solid punch. Jawbone UP band: Sleeping, eating and moving has never been so interesting The UP wristband by Jawbone promises a lot. It takes a 'holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle' to 'keep you moving forward'. It tracks sleep, food and movement.

Published by Associated Newspapers Ltd Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Associated Newspapers Ltd

9 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58

New pictures reveal necklace created by the Ancient Egyptians made fr...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2397818/New-pictures...

10 of 10

23.8.2013 20:58