Buddhist statue found by Nazis made from meteorite

An ancient Buddhist statue is a Nazi expedition brought back from Tibet shortly before World War II has proved to be carved from a meteorite, which crashed on Earth thousands of years ago.

Friday, September 28, 2012

BERLIN (AP) — An ancient Buddhist statue that a Nazi expedition brought back from Tibet shortly before World War II was carved from a meteorite that crashed on Earth thousands of years ago.

What sounds like an Indiana Jones movie plot appears to have actually taken place, according to European researchers publishing in the journal Meteoritics and Planetary Science this month.

Elmar Buchner of the University of Stuttgart said Thursday the statue was brought to Germany by the Schaefer expedition. The Nazi-backed venture set out for Tibet in 1938 in part to trace the origins of the Aryan race — a cornerstone of the Nazis’ racist ideology.

The existence of the 23.4-pound statue, known as “iron man,” was only revealed in 2007 when its owner died and it came up for auction, Buchner told the Associated Press.

German and Austrian scientists were able to get permission from its new owner, who wasn’t disclosed, to conduct a chemical analysis that shows the statue came from the Chinga meteorite, which crashed in the area of what is now the Russian and Mongolian border around 15,000 years ago.

The meteorite was officially discovered in 1913, but Buchner said the statue could be 1,000 years old and represent a Buddhist god called Vaisravana.

The Nazis were probably attracted to it by a left-facing swastika symbol on its front. The swastika has been used by various cultures throughout the ages, but the Nazis tried to appropriate it as the symbol of their ideology, going so far as to put a right-facing version of it on their red and white flag.

Scientists not involved in the study told the AP that the research linking the statue to the meteorite was credible.

“Looks like a solid piece of geochemical ‘forensic’ work,” said Qing-Zhu Yin, a researcher in geology at the University of California, Davis. “No terrestrial artifact would generally contain that much nickel content. Chemical elements don’t lie.”

Rhian Jones, an associate professor at the University of New Mexico who specializes in meteorites, said the claim appeared conclusive.

“There is a clear and convincing argument that the meteorite the statue is made from is the Chinga iron meteorite,” she said.

But Yin cast doubt on the claim the statue represented a Buddhist deity.

“I am not a historian. But the ‘iron man’ does not look like a Buddha to me from my cultural background,” he said. “It looks more like a warrior with a sword ... (a) resemblance of Genghis Khan. ... I have never seen a Buddha with a sword or knife.”

More like this story

2warped757 7 months, 3 weeks ago

I'd never heard of Nazis made from a meteorite. Do writers today not proofread their headlines or know that the placement of modifiers changes the meaning? I'm pretty sure it was the statue made of a meteorite, so why not say so?

asb 7 months, 3 weeks ago

First, this is the NT, home of the most proofreading and typesetting challanged teams in professional journalism. Fans of weird headlines the world over collect NT booboos. Second, it's a headline! They're supposed to be nuts. A cousin sent me a wood carving from India once and it was wrapped in Indian and British newspapers. It was as if they were both written in another language, except the words were all english . . . but you're right, this one slows comprehension. Ttry this one, Nazis Found Alien Statue, Hid For Years . . .

2warped757 7 months, 3 weeks ago

This isn't a NT headline - unless they re-wrote the one from the AP. I just think that basic English is not taught in J-school anymore. And I'm a smart-aleck.

online_editor 7 months, 3 weeks ago

I'm going to take issue with this criticism. Misinterpretation isn't logical because of the context. The meaning is clear because it's obvious that "made from meteorite" can only modify statue, just as "found by Nazis" does. Sure, someone can jokingly interpret it as modifying Nazis, but under no logical circumstances can that interpretation be taken seriously, thus the mind dismisses it and there's no misunderstanding. Alternatively, you would not say "Buddhist statue made from meteorite found by Nazis" because it would be unclear whether or not the original meteorite was found by Nazis, which is within the realm of possibility.

John 7 months, 3 weeks ago

Online_editor: You can take exception all you like and it does not matter that "misinterpretation isn't logical."

You are correct that a thinking individual, using contextual information, can "interpret" this to mean what the writer intended. However, we are not supposed to "interpret" news articles, they are supposed to stand on their own, as written, conveying factual information in an accurate and forthright manner. Therefore, the poor use of grammar and lack of proper punctuation is NOT excusable.

You and your personnel are supposed to be wordsmiths, you have proofreaders, and your material passes through multiple sets of hands (and eyes) before it is locked-up and printed. People look at you as professionals and expect professional level work from you, regardless of how large you paycheck is, what J-school you attended or did not attend, and regardless of your native tongue.

For example, you are supposed to know that it is considered unprofessional to use contractions in your writing -- the excuse in an article is that is saves white-space. That, however, does not excuse using the contractions when you offer a comment within this thread. You are supposed to lead by example, not excuse shoddy work.

online_editor 7 months, 3 weeks ago

Here's an interesting article debating the use of contractions in writing. I couldn't've (just kidding) outlined the issues better myself.

writingclearandsimple.com/2006/01/04/contractions-and-how-not-to-abuse-em

sancho 7 months, 3 weeks ago

asb and 2warped, you guys have too much free time.

eileen10 7 months, 3 weeks ago

I've never heard of anyone making anything out of a meteor.It doesn't look like any buddha I've ever seen and It doesn't really look like a warrior either. There's a big hole in the right ear with an earring and the left hand looks like it's holding a bear foot with six finger or toe nails? Beats me. Terrestrial artifact? There are terrestrial artifacts? I need to hit google and check that out.

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