by Heather Pringle 胡德良 译
For decades, archaeologists have debated the origins of several small iron beads excavated from ancient Egyptian graves in a site known as Gerzeh cemetery. Dating to around 3300 B.C.E., the tube-shaped ornaments (pictured) are the oldest known iron artifacts in Egypt. In fact, this jewelry greatly predates the iron tools and weapons tools that Egyptians began regularly producing from smelted iron around the 6th century B.C.E. But there's another possible origin for the iron that doesn't rely on smelting and human metallurgists: meteorites. The iron beads contain nickel, an element often found at high levels in the extraterrestrial rocks. Now, scientists have declared the mystery solved. A new study published in Meteoritics & Planetary Science reveals that the iron in at least one of the Gerzeh beads came from outer space. By combining scanning electron microscopy with x-ray computer tomography to examine the bead's microstructure and chemistry, a British research team determined that the iron possessed a structural and microchemical signature known as the Widmanst?tten pattern that is unique to weathered iron meteorites. Exactly why ancient Egyptians used this extraterrestrial iron for precious grave gifts is not known, but they may have believed that it offered especially powerful protection in the afterlife. Certainly, the new study is bound to prompt other researchers to reexamine other early iron artifacts, such as the small iron blades, headrest, and amulet discovered in the tomb of Tutankhamen, who died around 1327 B.C.E. | 几十年以来,考古学家们一直在争论发掘自古埃及坟墓的几个小铁珠的来源问题,这些坟墓位于一个被称为格泽墓地的地方。这些管状饰品(见上图)可以追溯到公元前3300年左右,在埃及是已知最为古老的铁工艺品。事实上,这种珠宝远远早于铁制工具和铁制武器之前,公元前6世纪时,埃及人才开始不断地通过铁提炼工具和武器。但是,对于这里的铁器,还有另外一种可能的起源:不靠提炼,不靠人类冶金专家——来自陨星。这些铁珠中含有镍,镍经常高水平地存在于地外岩石中。现在,科学家们宣布说,他们解开了这个谜。一项发表在《陨石学与行星科学 》杂志上的研究表明:在格泽墓地的铁珠中,至少有一颗是来自太空的。一个英国的研究小组将扫描电子显微术与X光线断层摄影术结合起来,检查了这种铁珠的微观结构和化学成分,确定了这颗铁珠拥有一种被称为“魏氏模式”的结构特征和微量化学特征,这些特征是风化的陨铁所独有的。那么,到底为什么古代埃及人利用这种外星铁器作为珍贵的墓葬礼品呢?这一点尚不清楚,也许他们认为这种铁器能够为他们的来世提供特别强有力的保护。当然,这项新研究必定会促进其他研究人员来重新审视其他早期的铁工艺品,如:从死于公元前1327年左右的图坦卡蒙墓中发现的小型铁刀片、铁头枕和铁护身符等。 |
译自:美国《科学》杂志网站(31 May 2013, 11:55 AM)
原著:Heather Pringle
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