New evidence, obtained through the use of highly-accurate X-ray technology, should end the discussion, revealing that the metal in the famous dagger made its way to Earth as part of an ancient meteorite.

The research project was an international effort, with scientists from multiple institutes, including the Polytechnic University of Turin, the University of Pisa and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, all working together to determine the origins of the famous blade.

Given the delicate nature of objects like this, it's usually very difficult to get permission to perform investigations of this type, even with assurances that the techniques used will be non-destructive. One previous study, conducted in 1970, did look at the composition of the blade, and suggested that it might be meteoritic in nature, but the work was never officially published, and the method used never disclosed.