Meteorite from Mars Sold for $4.3m Sparks Outcry Over Niger’s Cultural Heritage

• A rare Martian meteorite discovered in Niger has sparked international controversy after being sold for $4.3 million at a New York auction
• The government of Niger has launched an investigation into the legality of its export, raising concerns over possible illicit trafficking
• Scientists and heritage advocates argue the meteorite belongs in Niger, not in private hands abroad

A rare Martian meteorite discovered in Niger has ignited a storm of controversy after being sold at auction in New York for $4.3 million (£3.2 million), with critics questioning the legality of its export and the ethics of its sale.

The meteorite, officially named NWA 16788, was found in the Sahara Desert in Niger’s Agadez region on 16 November 2023, according to an Italian academic article. Weighing 24.7kg (54lb), it is the largest known piece of Mars ever discovered on Earth.

Initially sold by the local community to an international dealer, the rock was later transferred to a private gallery in Arezzo, Italy, before appearing at Sotheby’s in New York last month.

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Public display and scientific interest

Photographs of the meteorite taken at Sotheby’s showed the rock glowing silver and red under the lights, captivating viewers and scientists alike. Less than 400 of the 50,000 meteorites discovered on Earth have been confirmed to originate from Mars, making NWA 16788 a scientific treasure.

A team led by Giovanni Pratesi, a mineralogy professor at the University of Florence, examined the meteorite to study its structure and origin. It was briefly displayed in Italy, including at the Italian Space Agency in Rome, before being auctioned in the US. Two slices of the meteorite remain in Italy for further research.

Niger government launches investigation

The government of Niger has expressed serious concerns about the meteorite’s export, stating in an official release that it “expressed doubts about the legality of its export, raising concerns about possible illicit international trafficking”. An investigation has now been launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the discovery and sale.

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Sotheby’s has strongly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that “all relevant documentation was in order at each stage of its journey, in accordance with best practice and the requirements of the countries involved”. A spokesperson added that the auction house is “reviewing the information available to us in light of the question raised”.

Heritage advocates demand accountability

Prof Paul Sereno, a palaeontologist at the University of Chicago and founder of NigerHeritage, has condemned the sale. Speaking from Chicago, he said: “Brazen! It is brazen!” He argued that the meteorite should be returned to Niger, where it was found.

Prof Sereno has spent years working in Niger, uncovering dinosaur fossils and advocating for the protection of the country’s cultural and natural heritage. He is currently involved in plans to build a museum on an island in the River Niger in Niamey to house such artefacts.

“International law says you cannot simply take something that is important to the heritage of a country – be it a cultural item, a physical item, a natural item, an extraterrestrial item – out of the country. You know we’ve moved on from colonial times when all this was okay,” he said.

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Legal grey areas in meteorite trade

While global agreements under organisations such as UNESCO aim to regulate the trade of cultural and natural objects, the legal status of meteorites remains ambiguous. A 2019 study by international law expert Max Gounelle noted that meteorites could be included under these agreements, but their coverage is not explicit, leaving individual nations to define their own policies.

Niger enacted its own heritage protection law in 1997, which may now play a central role in the ongoing investigation.

Rock from mars sells for $5.3 million

Legit.ng earlier reported that a piece of rock from another planet has been sold on Earth for a whopping $5.3 million (N8.1 billion). The rock was sold during an auction handled by the Sotheby’s in New York, USA.

According to reporting by CNN, the rock is known as NWA 16788, and it is from Mars. Scientists who have analysed the rock believe that it was removed from the Martian surface and blasted into space by an asteroid.

Source: Legit.ng