Ancient jewelry from space Pictures Ancient jewelry from space 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. Credit: UCL Petrie Museum/Rob Eagle