Heavenly metal for the commoners: Meteoritic irons from the Early Iron Age cemeteries in Częstochowa (Poland)

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Albert Jambon, Gerta Bielińska, Maciej Kosiński, Magdalena Wieczorek-Szmal, Ewelina Miśta-Jakubowska, Jacek Tarasiuk, Karol Dzięgielewski

Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports
Volume 62, April 2025

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“Highlights

  • A couple of years ago two meteoritic iron bracelets were excavated in a cemetery near Częstochowa (Poland).
  • We examine whether more meteoritic irons are present.
  • Among the 26 iron objects analysed we found three bracelets, an ankle ring and a pin with meteoritic iron.
  • Unexpectingly the meteoritic iron is mixed with smelted iron.
  • We suggest that this extraterrestrial iron was just used as an iron resource and mixed probably for an aesthetic aspect.”

“The Częstochowa-Raków and Częstochowa-Mirów cemeteries in S Poland (Hallstatt C period) yielded several dozen iron objects, very few of which have been analyzed so far. The p-XRF analysis of 26 specimens and SEM/EDS analyses of 3, reveal that three bracelets, an ankle ring and a pin contain meteoritic iron, all the other objects being made of smelted iron. This modest number of specimens nevertheless forms one of the biggest collection of meteoritic iron products at one archaeological site worldwide. The presence in the same context of both meteoritic and smelted irons enables us to discuss the role of slag incorporation vs. contamination.
The composition of the specimens containing meteoritic iron is quite variable even for a single specimen, which can be explained by an association with smelted iron. Extensive examinations suggest that a single meteorite was used, possibly a contemporary fall which would not be an import. This confirms that the inhabitants knew the working of iron and that meteoritic iron no longer had the considerable symbolic value it had in the Bronze Age before the discovery of iron smelting. It was simply used as an iron ore. We suggest that meteoritic iron was deliberately used to produce a specific pattern on iron jewelry a millennium before the supposed invention of wootz and Damascus steel.”

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