King Tut’s dagger was made from meteorite iron. X-ray analysis of Tutankhamun’s blade revealed nickel and cobalt in proportions characteristic of iron meteorites—a royal treasure made from metal that fell from space.

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King Tut, Egypt’s teenage pharaoh, was buried with a gold-handled dagger. But its blade held the bigger surprise: iron, from a time when Egypt mostly used bronze. So where did that iron come from? X-rays revealed nickel and cobalt in proportions characteristic of something far beyond an ordinary iron deposit. A meteorite. An ancient craftsperson had worked metal that fell from space into this finely finished blade. More than three thousand years before humans reached space, Egyptians were already turning pieces of it into royal treasures. Follow for more.