Celestial craftsmanship: discoveries from China Sanxingdui uveil secrets of meteorite axe

The archaeological site of Sanxingdui in southwest China’s Sichuan province has yielded remarkable discoveries, including insights recently revealed by Chinese researchers about how the inhabitants forged an axelike tool from a meteorite.While meteorite artefacts are not entirely unheard of – China boasts 13 known meteorite objects – this discovery underscores that the people of Sanxingdui were part of a distinct regional culture, separate from their contemporaries further north.“The presence of meteoritic iron at Sanxingdui further highlights the distinctive metallurgical practices in Southwest China, in contrast to contemporaneous practices in the Central Plains,” wrote the authors in a study published in Archaeological Research in Asia.A preview of the new special exhibition, “Gazing at Sanxingdui: New Archaeological Discoveries in Sichuan,” at the Hong Kong Palace Museum in West Kowloon in September 2023. Photo: SCMP/Jonathan WongThis axelike tool stands as the oldest meteoritic object discovered in Bronze Age southwest China, “reshaping our understanding of early iron use and cross-regional technologies.” Additionally, it represents the largest meteorite artefact found in China to date.While researchers did not provide a specific dating for the axe, which was in a particularly fragile condition, the Sanxingdui culture is dated to around 1700–1050 BC.The tool consists of a unique metal blend – 90 per cent iron and 7.41 per cent nickel – that would have been nearly impossible to replicate, given the limited evidence for such advanced technology during that era in China.Diverging from other Chinese artefacts, the Sanxingdui tool was not combined with bronze, indicating it was forged directly from the meteorite with minimal alteration.The high nickel content is a common hallmark of meteorites and has consistently indicated that an ancient object originated from outer space.Three pieces of meteoric iron artefacts from China, including those from Sanxingdui, have been unearthed. Photo: Science AlertFurthermore, the object exhibited crystalline structures formed by slow cooling over extended periods. Geological processes on Earth occur far too quickly to produce these structures, marking them as a typical feature of celestial bodies.The unique combination of the metal blend and crystalline structure implies that the Sanxingdui people fashioned the tool from materials they discovered, rather than creating it through standard means.Discovered in a ritual sacrifice pit, the tool suggests that the community may have recognised the exceptional nature of its materials and regarded it as a highly valuable object.Moreover, the inherent hardness of iron would have made the axe an effective cutting and carving tool in a culture primarily utilising bronze.An illustration depicts a green comet with a glowing trail flying through a starry sky, capturing the essence of astronomy and meteor phenomena. Photo: Getty ImagesThe duality of the axe’s spiritual and utilitarian purposes may have coexisted, indicating its significance as a treasured item within the community.This discovery implies that while Bronze Age cultures were not actively forging other metals, they had the capability to shape objects beyond bronze. It further highlights the remarkable advancement of the Sanxingdui culture for its time.Meteorite artefacts possess a vibrant historical significance in archaeology, with the most notable example being a dagger gifted to Ancient Egypt’s King Tutankhamen (r. 1336–1327 BC). Archaeologists believe this knife was a gift from King Tut’s grandfather around 1300 BC.In late 2024, archaeologists unearthed two meteoric objects among numerous gold artefacts in Spain, known as the “Treasure of Villena.”The discovery of the Sanxingdui meteorite tool came just weeks after archaeologists announced that they believed they had solved the mystery regarding the origin of 3,000-year-old red gemstone beads found in the ancient city.These beads, identified as carnelian, were highly valued in Middle Eastern and Indus Valley cultures. Archaeologists speculate they arrived from the north, suggesting that the Sanxingdui people established trade routes with cultures on the Loess Plateau to the southeast of the Gobi Desert.