Study Reveals Early Use of Nickel Alloys in Bronze Age Poland, Challenging Metalworking History

A recent study conducted on artifacts from a hoard discovered in Trzciniec, Poland, has revealed the presence of nickel alloys dating back to the Bronze Age. This discovery challenges previous understandings of early metalworking techniques. The nickel found is of meteoric origin, suggesting its use predates the widespread terrestrial nickel exploitation. Researchers analyzed 26 artifacts using p-XRF and SEM/EDS techniques, confirming the presence of nickel in three items. This finding suggests a more nuanced picture of how ancient metallurgists handled scarce resources. The study, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science, indicates that nickel was deliberately used, rather than being a contaminant. Experts suggest that the use of meteoric nickel for production predates the adoption of the Damascus steel and Wootz steel processes by approximately a millennium, potentially reshaping our understanding of early metalworking innovations.