It's around 10,000 years old, and was made using rare 'extraterrestrial' metals.
A rare ancient mask has washed ashore in Florida and it is thought to be part of a massive treasure dating back at least 10,000 years. The rare mask fragment has washed ashore in Florida to the surprise of researchers who estimate that the ancient funerary mask is around 10,000 years old, and was made with a rare extraterrestrial metal; Iridium. The mask is thought to have belonged to a high-ranking official because of its rare composition.
10,000-Year-Old Mask
The rare mask is believed to have been crafted by a Pre Inca civilization in ancient Peru. The mask was discovered in Melbourne Beach, off the coast of Florida in the United States, and ex-MIT professor and Army Ranger Mike Torres believes that the artifact is about 10,000-12,000 years old. Speaking to Florida Today, Torres explained: “They had to, at one point, figure out blast furnaces.”
“It took serious thought to smelt this.” Torres thinks the ancient mask could be one of the earliest known examples of human metalworking. “This is some of the earliest evidence of man’s ability to metal-work and to use iridium.
Torres added that the Mask was crafted by a pre-Colombian culture and is an excellent example of ancient metalworking in the American Continent. “They had to, at one point, figure out blast furnaces,” Torres said. “It took serious thought to smelt this. That changes things and may change how we perceive ancient Peruvian cultures.” According to experts, the ancient mask is mainly made of copper, although it also contains traces of gold, silver, and iridium — a rare material that is found in meteorites.
Spanish tomb raiders most likely stole the mask thousands of years ago. “To contain iridium, it came from a very important or royal tomb and was likely on its way back to Spain as a gift to royalty,” Torres explained.
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