Crystal was invented around 1670, however, rock crystal is an extremely rare mineral, worth as much as gold, and it has never appeared in Spain.

A team of archaeologists discovered an ancient rock crystal dagger in one of the tombs in Seville, Spain. Experts believe that the artifact dates back about 5,000 years; it could have been an amulet for a wealthy person.

The dagger is 20 cm long, the sheath and handle are made of ivory. Researchers note that traditionally such weapons would have been made of stone. For this reason, the artifact found by scientists is considered extremely special and of great archaeological value.

A team excavating the megalithic tomb of Montelirio tholos from 2007 to 2010 discovered a very special dagger made of rock crystal. Experts say that to make this knife, the craftsmen used “the most sophisticated technique” ever discovered in prehistoric Iberia and that it would have taken a lot of time and skill to carve.

Rock crystal symbolizes the vitality of ancient peoples, as well as the connection with ancestors, so daggers made of stone have been discovered in many different places on our planet. However, this discovery in Spain is completely different, the material used to make it is far from what we are familiar with and until now, it is still unclear what purpose this crystal dagger was made for, because it is quite fragile.

In addition to the dagger, archaeologists also discovered many different types of weapons related to the excavation of the Seville cemetery, including: 16 arrowheads and 4 small blades found in the tomb, all items were made of crystal.

“They may represent decorative items that were only accessible to the elite during this time period,” said the study, published in the journal Quaternary International. The ᴀssociation of the dagger blade with the handle made of ivory, also a non-local raw material but certainly of great value, shows the high status of those who used such objects”.

In fact, natural crystal is an extremely rare mineral, it is equivalent in value to gold and does not exist in Spain, so scientists conclude that the material for making this dagger could have been brought to Seville from a very far away place.

Researchers believe that the owner of this dagger could have been a wealthy man who ordered a blade made of crystal. This particular knife could have been used as an ornament and emphasized the special status of its owner.

According to some others, the dagger could have been used for sacrificial purposes. In ancient times, it was believed that crystal accumulated power and brought victory. For this reason, crystal amulets were become popular, contributing to bringing luck, success and victory to its owner.

Rock crystal arrowheads were also found in the tomb. A total of 16 arrowheads were created by applying pressure, a process that involves removing small pieces along the edge of the stone.

The excavation in southern Spain was a collaboration between researchers from the University of Granada, the University of Seville and the Spanish Council for Advanced Studies. The teams worked at the site from 2007 to 2010 and published their findings in 2015, detailing the crystal arsenal.

The excavation project in southwestern Spain was a collaboration between researchers from the University of Granada, the University of Seville and the Spanish Council for Advanced Studies. The tomb is located in the lowlands of the Guadalquivir Valley. Researchers found rock crystal in eight locations across the 44-meter-long structure, which has a 39-meter-long corridor leading to the main chamber, which is more than 5 meters wide. However, fine objects such as arrowheads and dagger blades are located in the south.

The study said: ‘The manufacture of rock crystal daggers must have been based on the accumulation of experimental knowledge and skills pᴀssed down from the production of flint dagger blades as well as the know-how of making smaller biconvex objects from rock crystal.

The team believes that the production of the rock crystal daggers was likely based on the accumulation of experience pᴀssed down through the generations and skills developed while making stone blades. The polished surface of the weapon may have been to avoid cracking during shaping. Given the size of the dagger, the researchers speculate that it was made from a single block of crystal at least 22 cm long and 5 cm thick.

In addition to the weapon, the tomb contained the remains of 25 individuals. Several women and one man are believed to have died from poisoning. Their bodies were scattered around the tomb, along with offerings including ivory, jewelry, pottery and an ostrich egg.

In fact, it is not uncommon to find ancient artifacts made from rock crystal. In the past, French knights often attached pieces of rock crystal ore to their swords, believing that it would increase their strength. In Tibet, people believed that rock crystal could help wounded soldiers heal and recover faster.