# 250,000 year old alien Aluminum gadget **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 21, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277 "2016-10-21T20:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Nansbread1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Nansbread1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nansbread1)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 8:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/1 "2016-10-21T20:37:09Z")
[https://www.davidicke.com/article/389931/mysterious-piece-aluminium-part-ancient-ufo-visited-earth-250000-years-ago-claims-investigator](https://www.davidicke.com/article/389931/mysterious-piece-aluminium-part-ancient-ufo-visited-earth-250000-years-ago-claims-investigator) So what is the straight dope on this recent news article. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/2 "2016-10-21T20:40:59Z")
I am the King of Sardinia. (e.g., anybody can “claim” anything.) Skeptical until evidence is presented. Also, David Icke does not have a good reputation (putting it very mildly) among rational people. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/3 "2016-10-21T20:49:21Z")
It seems to be in the news a lot the last few days I couldn’t find out what makes them think it’s 250,000 years old. The rationalwiki entry suggests it’s probably an excavator tooth. [Wedge of Aiud - RationalWiki](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Wedge_of_Aiud) ---
**Author:** ![dtilque](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d6d6ee/32.png) [@dtilque](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dtilque)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/4 "2016-10-21T20:51:41Z")
It’s showing up on a number of other sources, although none on the first couple Google pages that I would consider reliable. We need a lot more info about what tests were made, etc before deciding. I don’t think there’s even a standard test for the age of aluminum, so I’m wondering how they came to this conclusion. ---
**Author:** ![beowulff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beowulff/32/542_2.png) [@beowulff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/beowulff)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/5 "2016-10-21T20:55:28Z")
“How can you tell?” asked Arthur. “Have you got some exotic device for measuring the age of metal?” “No, I just found this sales brochure lying on the floor. It’s a lot of `the Universe can be yours’ stuff. Ah! Look, I was right.” ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/6 "2016-10-21T21:12:44Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > [https://www.davidicke.com/article/389931/mysterious-piece-aluminium-part-ancient-ufo-visited-earth-250000-years-ago-claims-investigator](https://www.davidicke.com/article/389931/mysterious-piece-aluminium-part-ancient-ufo-visited-earth-250000-years-ago-claims-investigator) > > So what is the straight dope on this recent news article. I would hardly call something from the website of David Icke a “new article”. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/7 "2016-10-21T21:19:42Z")
> [@dtilque](#): > > It’s showing up on a number of other sources, although none on the first couple Google pages that I would consider reliable. We need a lot more info about what tests were made, etc before deciding. **I don’t think there’s even a standard test for the age of aluminum** , so I’m wondering how they came to this conclusion. Why not carbon dating? It worked on [Confederate gold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timecop). 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/8 "2016-10-21T21:31:00Z")
> [@Nansbread1](#): > > [https://www.davidicke.com/article/389931/mysterious-piece-aluminium-part-ancient-ufo-visited-earth-250000-years-ago-claims-investigator](https://www.davidicke.com/article/389931/mysterious-piece-aluminium-part-ancient-ufo-visited-earth-250000-years-ago-claims-investigator) > > So what is the straight dope on this recent news article. 1. This piece of trash(the item) was found back in 1973-nothing new. 2. This piece of trash(the “news” article) was written by [a man with a few problems, reality-grasping wise.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Icke) ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/9 "2016-10-21T21:33:08Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Why not carbon dating? > > It worked on [Confederate gold](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timecop). > 😃 Carbon dating doesn’t work on silicon-based life forms … ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/10 "2016-10-21T21:34:07Z")
How do you accurately date a metal object which has been refined out of ore? It’s a hardened bucket tooth from an excavator. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/11 "2016-10-21T21:46:18Z")
We can compare the amount of [sup]27[/sup]Al isotope to the amount of [sup]26[/sup]Al … if this was indeed an alien spacecraft, then the cosmic ray bombardment during it’s time in space would give an increase in the [sup]26[/sup]Al part. This won’t allow you to date the object, but it might give a clue to whether it is extraterrestrial or not. We could also test for unoctononium metal … if we find any that would be a sure sign of alien technology. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [October 21, 2016, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/12 "2016-10-21T22:09:23Z")
Do not read [davidicke.com](http://davidicke.com). Ever. Do not cite [davidicke.com](http://davidicke.com). Ever. Do not read any site that quotes or cites or points to [davidicke.com](http://davidicke.com) (except those like the Dope that will mock it to death). Those sites will reach out of your computer and smack IQ points out of your head. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/13 "2016-10-22T00:11:45Z")
> [@astro](#): > > How do you accurately date a metal object which has been refined out of ore? I’ve always had good luck going to the beach with a friendly dog, myself. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/14 "2016-10-22T00:43:49Z")
> [@astro](#): > > How do you accurately date a metal object which has been refined out of ore? > > It’s a hardened bucket tooth from an excavator. Not likely if it’s made from aluminum. It would tear off in about 2 seconds. More likely a foot pedal or some other item that doesn’t take a lot of abuse. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/15 "2016-10-22T01:49:51Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > Not likely if it’s made from aluminum. It would tear off in about 2 seconds. More likely a foot pedal or some other item that doesn’t take a lot of abuse. I believe they use hardened aluminum teeth in situations where there is fire danger from sparks present. [Excavator bucket teeth, made of aluminum](http://www.globalsources.com/si/AS/Ste-Superior/6008848006949/pdtl/Excavator-bucket-teeth/1079838854.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/16 "2016-10-22T02:30:01Z")
Why all the confusion? The article clearly states it’s part of a UFO. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/17 "2016-10-22T02:41:07Z")
How does the metallurgy compare to Meschermitts from WWII ??? Aluminium as used in air craft… maybe the Meschersmitt car… maybe a repair part. Anyway its highly likely to be from WW II based on statistics of aluminium parts use… ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/18 "2016-10-22T02:45:44Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > It seems to be in the news a lot the last few days I couldn’t find out what makes them think it’s 250,000 years old. The rationalwiki entry suggests it’s probably an excavator tooth. [Wedge of Aiud - RationalWiki](http://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Wedge_of_Aiud) My older brother found a pointed, steel object with something like a haft in a Virginia hayfield in the 1960s. Immediately assumed it was the point of a cavalry-man’s lance. No, said an historian from the UVA, it was from a reaper reaping hay. Broke his heart. > [@Derleth](#): > > I’ve always had good luck going to the beach with a friendly dog, myself. There are many ways of taking that sentence. Just saying. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 3:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/19 "2016-10-22T03:06:38Z")
> [@astro](#): > > I believe they use hardened aluminum teeth in situations where there is fire danger from sparks present. > > [Excavator bucket teeth, made of aluminum](http://www.globalsources.com/si/AS/Ste-Superior/6008848006949/pdtl/Excavator-bucket-teeth/1079838854.htm) interesting. I stand corrected. I briefly worked at a warehouse that dealt with excavation equipment parts. Never saw anything like that. Makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [October 22, 2016, 3:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277/20 "2016-10-22T03:14:31Z")
It was probably from a century before you worked there. Worked for JI Case after they bought International Harvester. Some drawings were still current 100+ years later. The Case guys refused to help with the IH parts. Couldn’t blame them. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/250-000-year-old-alien-aluminum-gadget/769277.md?page=2)