UCL Petrie Museum/Rob Eagle
Researchers have recently determined that nine 5,000-year-old Egyptian iron beads were crafted from meteorites, rather than iron ore.
The beads were discovered in an ancient Egyptian cemetery, strung together with gold and other precious materials, in 1911.
A research team from University College London used X-ray techniques to determine the beads were made from meteoric iron, which has a unique texture and makeup.
UCL Petrie Museum/Rob Eagle
The iron beads, seen here, were completely corroded when they were first excavated in the early 20th century.
UCL Petrie Museum/Rob Eagle
The beads are seen with other objects recovered from the cemetery in el-Gerzeh, Egypt.
Ancient Egyptians crafted the beads by hammering pieces of meteorites into thin sheets, then rolling the metal into tubes. This process pre-dated iron-smelting by 2,000 years.
UCL Petrie Museum/Rob Eagle
The beads were also found to contain high concentrations of nickel, cobalt, phosphorous and germanium -- elements that are characteristic of meteoric iron.
Pitt Rivers Museum
An archaeologist is seen during the excavation of a grave in el-Gerzeh in 1911, where the beads and other objects were discovered.
