In 1925, Howard Carter made one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of all time when he came upon the tomb of the Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamun . The huge number of fascinating objects discovered were intended to help King Tut enjoy a happy after life.
One of the objects found in the sarcophagus was a dagger with an elaborately decorated handle and an iron blade. The origin of the iron in the blade has fascinated scholars for nearly 100 years.
There are considerable deposits of iron ore in Egypt and Sinai Peninsula, but it is of very poor quality. Historical records show that high quality iron was not produced in Egypt until 800 years after the death of Tutankhamun. In fact iron was rarer than gold at the time of King Tut's reign.
So where did the iron for the dagger come from? Recent analysis, using fluorescence spectrometry strongly supports the theory that the metal originated from a meteorite.
The Egyptians in those days would have been aware that meteorites fell from the sky, where they believed the gods lived. Therefore, it follows, that they would have considered meteoric iron to be a divine material.....a material only fit for a Pharaoh. A sacred weapon to protect him in the after life.