The Sordid Mystery of a Somalian Meteorite Smuggled to China. Dan Vergano, 2025.09.22.
Meteorite Heist. (same text as above) SCIENTIFIC AMERICAN, November, 2025, pages 49-55.
How a Space Rock Became a Scientific Breakthrough - And a Black Market Commodity. Feltman and Vergano, 2025.10.17.
The Sordid Tale of a Stolen Meteorite. Video by Tom Lum and Dan Vergano, 2025.11.06. Transcript.
Letter to the Editor by N. Gessler 2025.10.24. [Unpublished]

The £150m Meteorite that Vanished off the Face of the Earth. Martin Fletcher, 2025.12.10.
The £150m Meteorite that Vanished off the Face of the Earth (local .pdf)

"I am very pleased to hear about the growing media interest and the ongoing discussions on repatriation. We stand ready to help in any way we can to support a clear path toward returning the meteorite to its impact site." Somalia's Ambassador to France and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO, Mohamed Ali-Nur Hagi (2025.11.24)

From Minister of Culture, Adan Barre Mohamd Muse, Hirshabelle State, Somalia (2025.08.04)
"On behalf of the National Museum of Somalia especially Hirshabelle State, I respectfully write to request the formal recognition of the El Ali Meteorite—locally known as Shiid Birood—as an integral part of the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of the El Ali Indigenous Community in the El Ali district of Hirshabelle State Somalia..." [more on link above]

From Honorable Member of Parliament, Dahir Jesow, Hirshabelle State, Somalia (2025.06.15)
"This meteorite, Shiid Birood, is not just a scientific specimen—it is sacred to the people of El Ali. For generations, it has stood as a spiritual symbol, a point of reference in poetry, oral traditions, and community dances... The removal of the meteorite is a theft of our heritage—akin to the looting of sacred artifacts during colonial times..." [more on link above]

SOMASA - Somali Academy of Science and Arts.
2026.01.10 Letter from Ahmed Mohamed M Gacal, Director of Policy and Planing, Somali Academy of Sciemnce and Arts (SOMASA)
"Please be assured that we are actively engaging with other relevant government officials to address this matter comprehensively."
[more on link above]

Recently,
from the sellers
on PROVENANCE
[translations pending]

"Shikshigow"
Abdi Mohamed Abdi
2026.01.06 and earlier
2026.01.09 22 Documents

Nur Hassan
2026.01.03 and earlier
Documents: 1  2  3  4

Somalia submits its first Tentative List for
UNESCO natural sites

2024: Bushbushle National Park, Lower Juba, Jubaland State.


2024: Hobyo Grass and Shrubland, Mdug, Galmudug State,

2025: Mogadishu Secondo-Lido Lighthouse.
Image Courtesy of Mike Grist

ON THE OWNERSHIP OF PREVIOUSLY UNOWNED PROPERTY:

• Yale Law School - Possession as the Origin of Property 1985

• Yale Law School - Accession and Original Ownership 2009.

U.S. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT POLICIES ON METEORITES:

• Collection of Meteorites on Public Land 2012

• Rock Hounding Pollicy 2014

METEORITICAL SOCIETY

• Law of Ownership and Control of Meteorites 2001
  

• Relationship to the Government of Oman 2007, p.1

• Society cannot adjudicate legal disputes 2010, Ethics p.7.

Oh meteorite, El Ali by name,
Of massive weight and ancient fame,
The eighth or ninth largest on this Earth,
With evidence of human worth.

Since times of old, it's been in use,
An artifact of great repute,
Found in Somalia, now for sale,
Who'll buy it? Who'll prevail?

Shall it be sliced for baubles, small,
To market souvenirs for all?
Or shall it be conserved with care,
For world heritage, beyond compare?

Let's seek a buyer wise and just,
To keep it whole, for future trust,
And for Somalia, might we pray,
To have it back, some future day.

29 January 2025: A PROPOSAL to UNESCO to place SHIID BIROOD and its IMPACT SITE on SOMALIA'S TENTATIVE LIST OF WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE SITES.

SHIID BIROOD, the IRON STONE of EL ALI / CEEL CALI

SHIID BIROOD is among the WORLD'S MOST MASSIVE METEORITES:
4,603,000,000 years of natural heritage depth of the Solar System
13.610,000,000 years of natural heritage depth of the Milky Way Galaxy
13,800,000,000 years of natural heritage depth of the Universe

SHIID BIROOD is the WORLD'S 7th LARGEST MASS of any OFFICIALLY NAMED METEORITE.

In 2020, El Ali was listed in Wikipedia as the 8th most massive mass of an officiall named meteorite. In 2025 El Ali is listed as the 11th. Aletai now has three individuals more massive than El Ali. Campo del Cielo has two individuals more massive than El Ali. And Cape York has two individuals more massive than El Ali. If we only allow the most massive individual of a named meteorite in the competition, then Shiid Birood is the world's 7th most massive. Said another way, "EL ALI ranks 7th as the most massive of the individuals of any named meteorite." Or, "EL ALI is the 7th most massive of the most massive individual in any single meteorite event or fall.

EL ALI's arrival on Earth is 14C radiometrically dated at circa 2,000 BP. Further dating by 10B, 14C, 22Na, 26Al, and 41C is in process.

SHIID BIROOD is AFRICA'S 2nd MOST MASSIVE METEORITE.

While Hoba (@ 60,000 kg) is clearly the most massive meteorite on the Earth and in Africa and a National Monument of Namibia, Shiid Birood (@ 15,150 kg) is the 2nd most massive and Mbosi (estimated @ 16,000 kg) is the 3rd most massive individual in all of Africa. El Ali's mass was actually weighted on the Mogadishu Weibridge at 15,150 kg, while Mbosi's weight was merely estimated @ 16,000 kg. Once Mbose is weighed on a certified scale, we may resolve the issue.

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SHIID BIROOD has been SIGNIFICANT in the TRADITIONS of the LOCAL CULTURES for GENERATIONS.
more than 600 years of cultural heritage depth.

The site of Shiid Birood must have been discovered soon after it fell some 2,000 years ago. Nomadic people are famous for knowing all the features of the countryside, and Shiid Birood was a large rock, and metallic, it felt and tasted different. It would have been known as a landmark, a meeting place, and a ceremonial place since it fell. And metal had been harvested from the iron stone soon after it was investigated, at least until smelted iron was traded in and became available at a cost less than the industry required to mine the meteorite for metal. For generations the meteorite was visited and celebrated in the cultural traditions and ceremonies of the local people of El Ali. It was featured in songs, dances, poetry, and stories. They are and were the most recent of the meteorite's custodians.. We hope that members of the community will provide us with examples in writing, in sound recordings and on video. The site of the meteorite, it's impact site, has long been a landmark and meeting place for the current residents. So too, it mush have been for any peoples who passed by. People living off the land keenly notice anything distinctive. Distinctive places become widely known, stories are generated, and become part of an intengible heritage and cultural identity since it landed 2,000 years ago. It's collision with the Earth was likely felt and seen for miles, It likely became a traditional part of the culture of many past peoples who encountered it. Archaeology will tell us when it impacted the Earth and its settlement history beginning about 2,000 years ago...

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SHIID BIROOD is the PRIME EXAMPLE of a PREHISTORIC INDUSTRY of MINING METEORITES for METAL
2,000 years of cultural heritage depth.

We have ship log records that the Inuit (Eskimos) mined the massive boulders of iron from Cape York in Greenland. These journals, penned in 1818, were kept by the explorers searching for the Northwest Passage (a northern route from the Atlantic to the Pacific Oceans). Their accounts document meeting Inuit Eskimos in Cape York, Greenland who used the iron to make knives and harpoon tips. Some of the most detailed accounts were by William Edward Parry, Captain of the ship Alexander, in the year 1818. Portions are reproduced below. "Probably no other meteorite has been so intimately connected with the life and fate of so many people..." wrote Vagn Buchwald speaking of the Cape York irons. These accounts provide evidence for EL ALI's inclusion in this accolade. The substantial archaeological research done on the Cape York iron meteorites, by Greenland and Danish researchers, provides the foundation for the archaeological potential of learning much more about this prehistoric tool-making industry from EL ALI, both from the meteorite and its impact site, through proper conservation, curation and research.

 

How did they remove small pieces of iron? By cold-forging, hammering the metal, moving it to corners and edges of the mass, by the process of plastic flow, to develope flakes and blades that could then be broken off. They also hammered shallow depressions into the iron, with oblique blows at angles towards one another, building up ridges where the ∞-shaped depressions coalesced, and could hen be broken off. The hammering created tiny tensile cracks in the iron behind the oblique blows, by the process known as rolling contact fatigue. Many of the massive stones that the Inuit mined for metal were eventually found and taken to the American Museum of Natural History in New York, USA, and to the Geological Museum in Copenhagen, Denmark. The largest meteoric masses that were mined for metal were known as the Woman, Dog, and Savik I. An additional iron boulder known as Ovifak was also mined for metal, but was of telluric. not meteoric iron. Telluric iron rose from deep within the Earth.

All of the above masses show the distinct marks of plastic flow, spalling, rolling contact fatigue and shelling, and the lips, folds, curls, and ridges that formed from having been hammered to remove coin-sized flakes of iron. Small cutting blades were made with additional cold forging and finally set into bone or wooden handles, as serrated knives, spear and harpoon tips. Archaeologists from Greenland documented the archaeology of mamy Inuit camp sites where the iron was mined and utilized, finding tons of hammerstones at the localities of each of the masses of Cape York that are in museums today. The basalt hammerstones were hauled in from 50 miles away to facilitate the mining. These iron blades and workpieces were traded over a distance of 1,000 miles for a time period of over 1,000 years.

The foregoing evidence from Greenland, suggests what we should expect to find in Somalia. The SHIID-BIROOD / EL ALI / CEEL CALI meteorite shows identical hammer markings. Moreover, hammerstones have been found in the upturned soil from the meteorite's removal by heavy equipment. And in that soil, one or two pieces of removed metal, showing hammering, have been recovered. In the future, when archaeology at the meteorite's impact site is possible, we expect to find abundant hammerstones, individual flakes, and some evidence of the tools that were fashioned with those metal blades, and the habitation sites of those who mined the metal and their cultures at that distant date two millennia in the past..

Look carefully at the videos and images on our website. The evidence of hammering is clear in the abundance of lips, folds and curls at the edges, and the downward plastic flow over the entire surface, which extends well below the present-day level of the ground, to the surface of the soil when it was mined 2,000 years ago. Look closely at the images of a hammerstone and hammered metal flake immediately below:

   
Hammerstone        Hammered Flake

SOMALIA'S CONSTITUTIONAL PROTECTIONS and OBLIGATIONS to HERITAGE CONSERVATION:

Why were the investigtions conducted by the Somali Security Services, the Somali esport permit and shipping documents regarding Shiid Birood, not made public?
Why were the financial involvements of Al-Shabaab, not made public?
Why was Article 31, paragraph 2, of the constitution ignored? (N. Gessler)

Draft Somali Provisional Constitution of 1 August 2012: Article 31: Language and Culture.

1. The state shall promote the positive traditions and cultural practices of the Somali people, whilst striving to eliminate from the community customs and emerging practices which negatively impact the unity, civilization and well-being of society.
   

2. The state shall collect, protect and preserve the country's historic objects and sites, whilst developing the know-how and technology that shall enable the fulfilment of such an obligation. *

3. The state shall promote the cultural practices and local dialects of minorities.

4. The rights mentioned in this Article shall be implemented in accordance with the fundamental rights recognized in this Constitution.

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China's Obligations regarding the importation of goods with known links to Al-Shabaab's financial network:

Al-Shabaab is implicated in 14 of the Somali media accounts linked to from our website: Y1, Y4, Y2, Y14, Y12, Y5, Y6, Y13, Y11, Y3, HANAHR, HANAHR, HANAHR, AADR.
On or before 2022.12.07 (CV8), the meteorite was shipped from Mogadishu to Yiwu, China.
On or after 2023.05.26 (CV18) the meteorite was received in Yiwu, China.
Why were the required Somali export documents and the Chinese import documents, not made public? (N. Gessler)

Retrieved by N. Gessler 24 August 2025:

"AI Overview:
Yes, the People's Republic of China (PRC) prohibits the importation of goods financed by Al-Shabaab, in accordance with its domestic laws and its obligation to implement UN Security Council sanctions
 
Here's a breakdown of China's anti-terrorism framework regarding Al-Shabaab:

• Adherence to UN sanctions: The PRC, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council, implements UN sanctions against Al-Shabaab. This includes supporting resolutions that condemn the group and tighten sanctions against it. UN sanctions against Al-Shabaab focus on cutting off their financial networks and preventing them from accessing weapons.

• Comprehensive Counterterrorism Law: China's domestic Counterterrorism Law explicitly prohibits providing "support, assistance, or facilities such as... funds [and] supplies" to terrorist organizations. This broad language covers the importation of goods that are financed through Al-Shabaab's illicit networks.

• Combating terrorist financing: China's counterterrorism legal framework includes specific provisions for combating terrorist financing and deterring extremism. This aligns with international efforts to disrupt Al-Shabaab's finances, which the group generates through extortion, illicit trade, and taxing goods and services in Somalia. 

By leveraging its domestic laws and international obligations, the PRC has a legal and administrative basis to seize or prevent the importation of goods with any known link to Al-Shabaab's financial network."

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UNESCO Heritage and related Conventions

SOMALIA has signed the:
1972 UNESCO CONVENTION Concerning the THE PROTECTION pf the WORLD CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

I. DEFINITION OF THE CULTURAL AND NATURAL HERITAGE

Article 1: For the purpose of this Convention, the following shall be considered as "cultural heritage":

monuments: architectural works, works of monumental sculpture and painting, elements or structures of an archaeological nature, inscriptions, cave dwellings and combinations of features, which are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;

groups of buildings:groups of separate or connected buildings which, because of their architecture, their homogeneity or their place in the landscape, are of outstanding universal value from the point of view of history, art or science;

sites: works of man or the combined works of nature and man, and areas including archaeological sites which are of outstanding universal value.

SHIID BIROOD and its IMPACT SITE near El Ali / Ceel Cali would best fit the "sites" cateory, specifically as an archaeological site. UNESCO sites refer to a parcel of land, a piece of real estate, there is not candidacy offered for "objects." While most UNESCO sites comprise features connected to that land, they have on one occasion allowed a "building" to be removed from its original site and moved to protect it. Such was the case of Abu Simbel, which UNESCO cut into blocks and moved away from flooding by the Aswan High Dam in Egypt. Shiid Birood in a safe museum, protected from its impact site, could be virtually united until such time as it could be safely returned. (N. Gessler)

SOMALIA has not signed the:
1970 UNESCO CONVENTION on the means of PROHIBITING and PREVENTING the ILLICIT IMPORT, EXPORT and TRANSFER of OWNERSHIP of CULTURAL PROPERTYL

China is a signing State Party to this Convention, and as such must abide by the restrictions on importing "illicit" properties, from other States Parties and apparently from non-acceeding, unsigned States such as Somalia. Thus China would seem to be required to abide by its own import regulations regarding certification of the contents, ownership, and export specified in Article 3. If a designated terrorist group such as Al Shabaab is implicated, and if Al Shabaab is considered to be a "foreign power," then Article 13 would seem to be applicable. (N. Gessler).

"Considering that it is incumbent upon every State to protect the cultural property existing within its territory against the dangers of theft, clandestine excavation, and illicit export,..

Article 1 
For the purposes of this Convention, the term "cultural property" means property which, on religious or secular grounds, is specifically designated by each State as being of importance for archaeology, prehistory, history, literature, art or science and which belongs to the following categories: 
(a) Rare collections and specimens of fauna, flora, minerals and anatomy, and objects of palaeontological interest; 

Article 3 
The import, export or transfer of ownership of cultural property effected contrary to the provisions adopted under this Convention by the States Parties thereto, shall be illicit.

Article 6 
The States Parties to this Convention undertake: 
(a) To introduce an appropriate certificate in which the exporting State would specify that the export of the cultural property in question is authorized. The certificate should accompany all items of cultural property exported in accordance with the regulations;

Article 11 
The export and transfer of ownership of cultural property under compulsion arising directly or indirectly from the occupation of a country by a foreign power shall be regarded as illicit. 

Article 13 
The States Parties to this Convention also undertake, consistent with the laws of each State: 
(a) To prevent by all appropriate means transfers of ownership of cultural property likely to promote the illicit import or export of such property; 

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"The Proof is Out There". Season 4, Episode 18. (Audience ~588,000.)
Did scientists studying a 15-ton meteorite discover new minerals that are
proof of an alien civilization?
https://play.history.com/shows/the-proof-is-out-there/season-4/episode-18
Audio is here.

THERE ARE TWO ELEMENTS OF EL ALI'S WORLD CULTURAL HERITAGE SIGNIFICANCE:

1. It's historic significance, as recounted by the peoples of the El Ali community reaching back for several generatins in their traditional songs, poems, dances, and stories.
2. It's prehistoric significance, as the beginning the meteoritic Iron Age some 2000 years ago, a local precursor of the smelted Iron Age in Africa, Current research is outlined below:

HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE: We look forward to learning more from the El Ali community. Until then, Fadumo Yusuf has written this introduction: The Flavors of Buraanbur – Somali Poetry & Dance Style.

PREHISTORIC SIGIFICANCE: A PowerPoint introduction by Nick Gessler'sentitled SOMALIA’S IRON AGE BEGINS WITH EL ALI.may be viewed on OneDrive.

The methods used by prehistoric Somalis and Greenlanders to remove coin-sized flakes of iron from massive meteorites is called cold-forging. It is a method that is familiar to neigher modern industrial cold-forgingis factories nor to today's artisinal blacksmiths. Industrialists and blacksmiths begin their work with portable sized stock shapes such as bar, plate, round, square, pipe, sheet and channel, By contrast, our prehistoric ironsmiths worked with non-portable, immovable, mild-steel masses to remove flakes of about five grams each, with hammers of stone basalt, cobbles imported from great distances.

There is a dirth of literature on this process and the techniques used are largely unknown in the production of steels. However, folds, curls, ridges, scrolls, lips, rolls, rims, edges, and margins are routinely recognized as collateral and unwanted defects caused by repeated excessive hammering on mild steel during during heavy use. Prominent examples are well known on the heads of cold chisels and hand hammers as well as on railroad tracks.

We can learn much more about EL ALI's prehistoric past by studying what we know about Greenland's Cape York "Woman" and "Dog" meteorites which have been studied by archaeologists affiliaed with the University of Copenhagen, the Natural History Museun of Denmark, the National Museum of Denmark, and the Greenland National Museum. Archaeology that could be done at the impact site of EL ALI could tell us more...THE CULTURAL HISTORY OF THE INNAANGANEQ METEORITE.

Draft Somali Provisional Constitution of 1 August 2012: Article 31: Language and Culture.

1. The state shall promote the positive traditions and cultural practices of the Somali people, whilst striving to eliminate from the community customs and emerging practices which negatively impact the unity, civilization and well-being of society.
2. The state shall collect, protect and preserve the country's historic objects and sites, whilst developing the know-how and technology that shall enable the fulfilment of such an obligation. *
3. The state shall promote the cultural practices and local dialects of minorities.
4. The rights mentioned in this Article shall be implemented in accordance with the fundamental rights recognized in this Constitution.

* To conform to current UNESCO practice, Item 2 should be modified to read: (NG)
The state shall collect, protect and preserve the country's prehistoric, protohistoris, historic and other natural and cultural heritage objects and sites, whilst developing the know-how and technology that shall enable the fulfilment of such an obligation.

Somali Constitutio from the government website.

Draft Somali Constitution held at University of Nottingham.

https://biea.ac.uk/the-world-of-iron-at-10/

SOMALIA’S IRON AGE BEGINS WITH EL ALI. - N. Gessler, A. A. Hussein, A. H. Egeh.

EL ALI is the world’s most significant culturally modified meteorite. It is also the world’s 9th largest, and the bearer of 3 new minerals from space to Earth. El Ali could be proclaimed an object of world cultural and natural heritage significance, a tribute to the innovation and creativity of the prehistoric peoples of Somalia.

EL ALI is a 15.15-tonne “IAB Iron Complex” meteorite, which landed 2-3,000 years ago. It was ripped from its impact site by heavy equipment in 2020, trucked 300 km to Mogadishu, seized and then released for export to Zhenjiang, China, where it is now for sale.  In 2021 it was officially published in the Meteoritical Bulletin by our team of Somali, Canadian and US researchers.  17 minutes from 16 videos show EL ALI in situ, unearthed, and displayed. These images reveal that its entire exposed surface bears evidence of extensive, intensive, and prolonged removal of flakes of meteoritic iron by cold forging. EL ALI has been mined-for-metal to make knives and points.  A similar discovery was made 200 years earlier, at Cape York in Greenland. Iron imposes a unique subsistence calculus on any society that embraces it. Whether smelted or mined from meteorites, it transforms one’s way of life.

The ethnohistory of the Cape York provides a context for EL ALI. In 1818, Captain James Ross wrote of the Inuit: “Each of the natives was provided with a kind of knife, made of small pieces, or plates of iron, which were set close together in a groove made in a piece of narwhal’s horn: the end piece was riveted, but the others were kept in their places merely by being driven tightly into the groove. Very diligent enquiry was set on foot as to where they found the iron of which these knives were made; but all we could learn from them was, that they met with it near the shore, at some distance from this place… They procure the iron… from a mass of native iron, distant… about a day’s journey eastward of this place… Their only object, in coming so far from their own country… is to procure some of this iron, which they break off with some difficulty by means of stones, and then beat out into small plates of which the knives are made. Thus far their description agrees so well with what we find these rude instruments to be, that I think there cannot be any doubt of the truth of what they related,” Seventy tonnes of basalt were carried 50 km for use as hammers and the meteoritic flakes were traded, found in archaeological sites 2500 miles away. Cape York’s mined meteorites weigh only 4 tonnes.
In the back-dirt at EL ALI’s impact site are many basalt hammerstones. Traditions and claims of ownership await translation from over 10 Somali media. The Ministry of Mines’ offers to support a scientific excavation. Three Meteoritical Society presentations and other evidence are available at: https://people.duke.edu/~ng46/El-Ali/

.pptx and .mp4
presentations
Los Angeles
13-18 August 2023

Click to view with OneDrive

SOMALI FOLKLORE - A TALE OF THE EL ALI METEORITE
A. A. Hussein, Almaas University, Mogadishu, Somalia. rector@almaas.edu.so

https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2023/pdf/6056.pdf

Abstract - #6056 Introduction: In June 2020, a team of artisinal miners were in search for opal minerals and were prospecting in West Hiiraan, in El Ali and Buq Aqable area. The team belonged to a small-scale company called Kuraim. As they scoured the bushland in the search of opal, they spent weeks and left no rock unturned. However, their effort paid off when they spotted a huge brown rock with metallic lustre. The rock was different from the sandstone/limestone rocks that dominated the area. It was very dense, magnetic, with unusual shape – rounded with potholes and partly immersed in a small impact crater. One of the miners recognized the rock as a meteorite, and took a sample for a laboratory chemical and mineralogical analysis from the massive rock. It was a very difficult job to chop off small pieces from it. The result was a find of 15.15 tonne meteorite, that was moved away in September 2022 to Mogadishu.

WHAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE KNOW ABOUT THE EL ALI METEORITE.
A. H. Egeh, Almaas University, Mogadishu, Somalia, egeh@almaas.edu.so.

https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2023/pdf/6057.pdf

Abstract - #6057 Introduction: In the past, the El Ali meteorite was not unknown to the locals; rather it was one of their most important landmarks in the area. Its cultural heritage significance was the elephant in the room. El Ali has been a symbol for the local people for a long time and was known as “Shiid-birood,” which means the iron stone (because of its properties of resonance and its ductility). Eventually, the name was given to the area surrounding it.1 The characteristics of the El Ali meteorite’s (Shiid-birood’s) environment include: plants do not grow up around it for a distance of about 10 meters, and it is surrounded by black rocks that appear as a burnt stones.2 Past familiarity with this stone is evidenced by local stories saying that “during the colonization period, the Italians tried to take it, but they couldn’t due to its heavy weight and to the locals who were against it.”2 At sunset, the stone appears in the shape of an animal, and the livestock fear it and run away from it. People describe it as looking like a horse, and the local children play on it and ride it like a horse.

Right Click / Save Link As

Click to view on OneDrive

SOMALIA’S IRON AGE BEGINS WITH EL ALI.
N. Gessler, Duke University (retired), nick.gessler@duke.edu

https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/metsoc2023/pdf/6011.pdf

Click to view with OneDrive.

1/3/2023 Summary by N. Gessler:
Radiometric analyses by Dr. Timothy Jull, University of Arizona.  Initial sub-samples of 3.22 and 5.88 grams from UCLA specimen #1 provided radiometric dating that tentatively established the age of the fall of El Ali at less than 2 to 3 thousand years.  This means that the meteorite would have been available for use by people back into the Iron and Bronze Ages.  A new sample #2 with a mass of 17.5 grams is arriving soon.  Age estimates and other data will be generated from further analyses of radioactive Carbon (14C), Beryllium (10B) , Calcium (14C) and Aluminum (26Al) isotopes.

10/25/2024 Update by T. Jull:
The sample was run as "Nightfall" (R4080): 14C (dpm/kg) = 3.5+-0.1.
Terrestrial age is estimated using a saturated activity of ~4 dpm/kg to be < 2000 yr.
I can probably refine some of this, but this assumes a relatively small object (which El Ali isn't). However, it's the best I have at the moment.
I went through the files I have on my laptop and the backup USB stick and didn't find any other new information.
Since some of this was done during COVID, it's possible I have other information on my computer in Tucson.
I don't think any work was done on 41Ca or 10Be at Vienna, but I can ask. I can also ask the Bratislava colleagues if there was ever any 26Al result.

National Geographic Press Release

University of Alberta
Meteoritical Bulletin Entry

Limited Edition Coffee Cup

In virtually all of the images of the meteorite Shiid Birood, almost no context and no faces are shown except for Nur Hassan (a.k.a. Noor Sheikh). He appears in a portrait image "H," and his blue shirt is seen while guaranteeing that the sample is being removed from the main mass in cell phone videos "CV1" and "CV17." He also submitted the sample for XRF analysis to Nairobi. The 2020.05.19 lab report is here.

The meteorite, unearthed, is in the foreground. A road and clearing, devoid of vegetation, is seen behind it in image "H."

Image R
Mogadishu. Note hammered surface.

Red/Cyan stereo anaglyph (limited depth).

Image S
Mogadishu. Note hammered surface.

Aired

ID

Station

sequence number

Notes

Y1

2020.02.23 aired
Somali Cable
London

5:12 duration
315k views
511 comment
1.2M followers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=539735773558662

23 February 2020: MP Dahir Jesow. ENGLISH #1

2https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=539735773558662

1) Somali Cable: "Dhagax laga soo qaaday Deegaanka Ceel Cali"
(Stone taken from the Ceel Cali area) With Member of Parliament
MP Dahir Amiin Jesow.

Y2

10::07 duration
69,254 views
788k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgFl90wCbfs

26 February 2020.: MP Dahir Jesow: ENGLISH #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgFl90wCbfs

2) Youtube: "What is the stone held by the government of
Somalia & its value?" MARACADDE SHOW:
60k views, 84 comments, all 3 years old,
all archived and translated by Google..

Y3

https://www.facebook.com/dahir.jesow

5:23 duration

https://www.facebook.com/dahir.jesow/videos/1420758382052710

SEARCH

3) Note: Ceel Cali is not mentioned in this interview (NG).
Click for legible enlargement.

Y4

2020.02.25
KNN Kulmiye News Network

11:19 duration
3.1k views
276k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB46J_2LPoU

25 February 2020
Link from HANAHR 2. ENGLISH #4 (duplicate)

Y5

2020.0419 aired
KNN Kulmiye News Network

3:55 duration
2689 views
19 comments
276k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3pqIlR937jI

Y6

2020.11.24 aired
KNN Kulmiye News Network

13.:06 duration
1.4k views
276k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=573XIvFfBe0

24 February 2020: MP Maryan Ahmed Haroun: ENGLISH #6

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=573XIvFfBe0

6) Kulmeye News Network. MP Maryan Ahmed Haroun,
Peoples Assembly, El Ali constituency,
"We are afraid of other resources of El Ali."

Y7

2020.02.27 aired
SHTV
Shabelle TV

5:52 duration
1593 views
145k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1453292584842644

Y8

2022.11.29 aired
Goobjoog News

9:01 duration
225 views
42 comments

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=856895102089452

Y9

2022.11.10
Eng Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussei
HUDHUD1: "The stone was found near the village of El Ali in Hiiran and removed from the country.

0:46 duration ?
or
7:00 duration?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbHNOp6Wydk&t=46s

No longer available

Y10

2023.04.01
Somali National Television

12:04 duration

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=223876560222178&ref=sharing

Y11

2022.11.30 aired
BBC NWS SOMALI
London

Text only
2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.bbc.com/somali/articles/cge59l7p24yo

30 November 2022. ENGLISH #11

https://www.bbc.com/somali/articles/cge59l7p24yo

Translation by Google.

Y12

2020.03.05
RTN SOMALI TV
Rajo Television Network

4:26 duration
476 views
305k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Viy4tYIDsLs

Y13

2021.07.21
SNT Somali National Television
I joined Al-Shabaab so that I could have something with the gold found in El-Ali. (Google)
"Waxaan Al-Shabaab ugu biiray si dhagaxii dahabka ahaa ee laga helay Ceel-Cali aan wax ugu yeesho."

17:25 duration
189K views
866k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCOvTA0jIvM

31 July 2021
Link from HANAHR 1 . ENGLISH #13

xaan Al-Shabaab ugu biiray si dhagaxii dahabka ahaa ee
laga helay Ceel-Cali aan wax ugu yeesho.

Caption reads, "I joined Al-Shabaab so that I could have 
something with the gold found in El-Ali." (NG)
Our official analysis of EL ALI's gold content was 
1.2  µg/g.  Given El Ali's total mass of 15,000,000 grams, 
it contains 18 grams  of gold, worth about $1530. (NG)
186K views  3 years ago

Y14

2020.02.26
SBC Somali TV

3:17 duration
368 views
154k subscribers

2025.04.03 viewed

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyKy5FfLS1g

26 February 2020
Link from HANAHR 3. ENGLISH #14

EL-ALI REGIONAL GOVERNOR SENT AN INVITATION 
TO THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA

Y15

4 February 2023
Link from HANAHR 4. ENGLISH #15

roos baadiyaha fog ee Ceel cali xili habeen ah laguna
ciyaaray dhaanto cajiib ah <

A wedding in the remote countryside of 
Eel Ali during the night with a wonderful
dance 

Y16

23 February 2016
Link from HANAHR 5. ENGLISH #16

The army of El Ali Saar presented in the 
district of El Ali. 

Y17

14 June 2022
Link from HANAHR 6. ENGLISH #17

aarkii dagmada ceel cali caanka ku eheed waayo wayo
allow u naxatiiso intii dhimatay wa waqti fog <

In the district of El Ali, it is famous 
because it is not allowed to mourn those 
who died a long time ago

Y18

2022.11.30
Wariyaha Muqdisho
Stone exported from Somalia and became a rare mineral. (Google)
Dhagax laga dhoofiyay soomaaliya oo noqday macdan naadir ah.
GAROWE ONLINE

Text only

from ENGLISH #18

https://garoweonline.com/en/fikradaha/warbixino/dhagax-laga-dhoofiyay-soomaaliya-oo-noqday-macdan-naadir-ah

From the Horn Afrik News Agency for Human Rights (HANAHR)

Exclusive Interview with the Honorable Member of Parliament, Dahir Jesow on the El Ali Meteorite:
A Sacred Stone Stolen from a Community and a Country

Date: June 14, 2025

HANAHR: Honorable MP Dahir Jesow, thank you for taking the time to speak with us. We’re here to discuss a matter that has shaken not only the scientific community, but also the very cultural roots of the El Ali community—the El Ali Meteorite, known locally as Shiid Birood. First, do you personally, and your constituents, believe the meteorite and its impact site should be preserved and protected, rather than cut up and sold?

MP Dahir Jesow: Absolutely. This meteorite, Shiid Birood, is not just a scientific specimen—it is sacred to the people of El Ali. For generations, it has stood as a spiritual symbol, a point of reference in poetry, oral traditions, and community dances. The locals have long regarded it as a celestial gift, not just a rock. My constituents and I firmly believe that the site should have been left intact and developed into a cultural heritage site open to researchers, educators, students, and visitors—rather than exploited, stolen, and sold. Its desecration is not only a violation of cultural dignity, but also of Somalia’s constitution.

HANAHR: Do you consider the meteorite and its impact site a national treasure of the El Ali community and Somalia, and a matter of international cultural and natural heritage?

MP Dahir Jesow: Without question. The El Ali Meteorite belongs to the Somali people—especially the El Ali community, whose ancestors have safeguarded it for centuries. It is a geological, historical, and spiritual marvel. Somalia, in cooperation with international bodies like UNESCO and the International Union of Geological Sciences, should have acted to preserve it. The removal of the meteorite is a theft of our heritage—akin to the looting of sacred artifacts during colonial times.

HANAHR: Journalists often say, “follow the money.” Can you tell us what you and your constituents know about how the meteorite was removed, transported to Mogadishu, and then sent to China?

CONTINUED AT HANAHR

3 June 2023

 

https://hanahr.net/somalia-el-ali-meteorite-in-the-light-of-history-and-culture/

The article above may be accessed from the link below:

>https://hanahr.net/chasing-the-stolen-meteorite-maxamed-dhicisows-fight-for-ceel-calis-lost-heritage/

31 July 2021
Link from HANAHR 1 . ENGLISH #13

xaan Al-Shabaab ugu biiray si dhagaxii dahabka ahaa ee laga helay Ceel-Cali aan wax ugu yeesho.

Caption reads, "I joined Al-Shabaab so that I could have 
something with the gold found in El-Ali." (NG)
Our official analysis of EL ALI's gold content was 
1.2  µg/g.  Given El Ali's total mass of 15,000,000 grams, 
it contains 18 grams  of gold, worth about $1530. (NG)
186K views  3 years ago

25 February 2020
Link from HANAHR 2. ENGLISH #4 (duplicate)

IS THE STONE FOUND IN A WELL GOLD OR PEARL?
3.1K views  4 years ago

26 February 2020
Link from HANAHR 3. ENGLISH #14

EL-ALI REGIONAL GOVERNOR SENT AN INVITATION 
TO THE HEAD OF GOVERNMENT OF SOMALIA
325 views  4 years ago

4 February 2023
Link from HANAHR 4. ENGLISH #15

roos baadiyaha fog ee Ceel cali xili habeen ah laguna
ciyaaray dhaanto cajiib ah <

A wedding in the remote countryside of 
Eel Ali during the night with a wonderful
dance 
3.1K views 1 year ago

23 February 2016
Link from HANAHR 5. ENGLISH #16

The army of El Ali Saar presented in the 
district of El Ali. 
29K views  8 years ago

14 June 2022
Link from HANAHR 6. ENGLISH #17

aarkii dagmada ceel cali caanka ku eheed waayo wayo
allow u naxatiiso intii dhimatay wa waqti fog <

In the district of El Ali, it is famous 
because it is not allowed to mourn those 
who died a long time ago
983 views  2 years ago
        

From the Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRDS).

On 27 October 2024, info@CSHRDS wrote:
These resources aim to underscore the gravity of the meteorite’s acquisition and its impact on the El Ali community. We are prepared to collaborate and provide further assistance in gathering documentation, particularly around the claims and narratives from the Indigenous people affected. Our goal is to support your ongoing research efforts to ensure that the meteorite’s cultural context and legacy are honored and safeguarded by bringing the meteorite in a safe country like USA where it should be placed in a museum (the income generated from itssits can be divided between the museum and the support to the community in El Ali) that is a notion we share with you. Best regards, Information Desk of the Coalition of Somali Human Rights Defenders (CSHRDS)

On 2 November 2024, info@CSHRDS wrote:
Thank you for your detailed message and the efforts you’re putting into the El Ali meteorite and its cultural heritage. I’ll address your questions and provide insights as best as I can.

1. Identities and Roles:
Abdikarim Farasle(fake name and really name remains unknown), Abdi Shigshigow (real name), Noor Hassan (real name), Abukar Murasade (fake name), and Faqi Qubeys (fake Name) are indeed connected with the El Ali meteorite but they are the businessmen who conspired and staged the robbery of the meteorite and  most of them carry fake names; however, there is still ongoing debate regarding their exact roles and claims. Some have been described as kureym company adhoc founders, others as businessmen and others as alshabab members pretending businessmen, but these titles are not fully verified due to conflicting claims. Fayssal is another individual who claims to have found the meteorite, adding to the complexity Kureym Mining and Rocks Company: There have been claims that these individuals are affiliated with Kureym, potentially as owners or stakeholders. The company’s role in either selling or owning the meteorite remains murky, especially in light of local tensions and disagreements. The Somalia state officials were involved in like the president Abudllahi farmajo, prime minsiter (Ali Kheyre) and head of NISA (Fahad Yasin) in creating the adhoc mining  company  (kureym) and the export process.

2. Sale and Ownership Complications:
I agree that finding a buyer at the $5 to $10 million mark will be challenging. Lower price ranges, such as $1 or $2 million, may attract more interest, though, as you noted, buyers will be concerned about the risk of Somalia reclaiming ownership. The internal disputes among the sellers further complicate matters, as there’s a lack of clarity about who the rightful contact is. But here we can intervene and call for international rights groups to defend the right of ownership of the El Ali indigenous community and their full rights to benefit from any sell out and rent etc as they are the victims of the whole process and the corrupt Somalia state is only to violate their rights to preserve and benefit from their cultural heritage (imagine that El Ali community are denied any sort of access to any international humanitarian aid and development projects) therefore, we have to emphasize using the meteorite for their direct aid.

3. Government Involvement and Heritage Efforts:
As you suggested, engaging with Somali government officials and parliamentarians could provide some clarity and help in establishing a united stance on the meteorite. My contacts and I... have spoken with relevant figures, though the government’s response has been limited so far. This may change if there’s enough pressure for action in support of heritage preservation. Indeed, the El Ali site’s significance—especially given its prehistoric value—was largely unrecognized until recently. A government-led negotiation could be beneficial, though such a process would need careful consideration of the stakeholders involved. There may be a way to create a framework where everyone benefits, preserving both Somali heritage and the value of the meteorite. Especial consideration should given to the El Ali community representation and development as Somalia state officials are extremely corrupt but we can have Member Parliamentarians from El Ali on board to support us

4. Public Interest and Cultural Narrative:
Your idea to approach (high profile individuals and institutions) is worth exploring, even if the interest may be speculative. Additionally, the personal stories around El Ali... are precisely the kinds of narratives that can capture public interest. Publications... could indeed amplify awareness, perhaps creating broader support for heritage preservation.

5. Advice Moving Forward:
Given the internal disputes, it might be beneficial to work toward a centralized negotiation. I’ll continue coordinating with local contacts and government officials (El Ali MPs) to advocate for a cohesive approach and will update you on any developments as our main objective is to defend the rights of the indigenous community in El Ali and protect their cultural heritage). In the meantime, any media exposure or interest you can garner from institutions or individuals could help apply further pressure for a resolution.

Thank you again for your continued efforts. I’m here for any additional support or information you may need. Best regards, info@cshrds.org

Elipses "..." and parentheses "( )" indicate my own edits.. (NG)

27 Octpber 2024 .
Link from "CSHRDS 2."

Videos of the meteorite EL ALI in situ where it landed.
"The El Ali Meteorite Violently Robbed by Al-Shabaab Terrorists - Video by Local Indigenous Community."

"El Ali Meteorite (16 tonne) was violently robbed by Al-Shabaab terrorists and inc collaboration with officials from the Government, they sold it to: 1. China and some fragmented parts of it to : 2. CANADA Alberta University 3. California Technology University in USA"

Media found searchinig for "El Ali" or "Ceel Cali" on the Internet.

23 February 2020: MP Dahir Jesow. ENGLISH #1

2https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=539735773558662

1) Somali Cable: "Dhagax laga soo qaaday Deegaanka Ceel Cali" (Stone taken from the Ceel Cali area) With Member of Parliament MP Dahir Amiin Jesow. 311k views, 511 comments. 5 min 12 sec.

24 February 2020: MP Maryan Ahmed Haroun: ENGLISH #6
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=573XIvFfBe0

6) Kulmeye News Network. MP Maryan Ahmed Haroun, Peoples Assembly, El Ali constituency, "We are afraid of other resources of El Ali." 1.4K views, 0 comments.13 min 07 sec.

25 February 2020. ENGLISH #4https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PB46J_2LPoU

4) Kulmeye News Network. "Is the stone found in a well gold or pearl?" 3K views, 3 comments.11 min 19 sec.

26 February 2020.: MP Dahir Jesow: ENGLISH #2

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgFl90wCbfs

2) Youtube: "What is the stone held by the government of Somalia & its value?" MARACADDE SHOW: 60k views, 84 comments, all 3 years old, all archived and translated by Google..10 min 07 sec.

Hon Dahir Jesow Official Member of Parliament page.

Dahir Jesow page (current)
Jesow posted this video and explanation on 11 July 2023. (5m 23s)
https://www.facebook.com/dahir.jesow/videos/1420758382052710
A screenshot of his posting may be seen to the frame to the right. >>>>>

Dahir Jesow page (not current)

11 July 2023:: MP Dahir Jesow, ENGLISH #3

https://www.facebook.com/dahir.jesow/videos/1420758382052710

3) Note: Ceel Cali is not mentioned in this interview (NG).
Click for legible enlargement.

30 November 2022. ENGLISH #11

https://www.bbc.com/somali/articles/cge59l7p24yo

Translation by Google.

Eng Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussein, 29 November 2022
ENGLISH #8

Goobjoog Television Interview on El Ali
9m01s

Eng Abdulkadir Abiikar Hussein,1 April 2023
ENGLISH #10

Somali National Television Interview on El Ali 12m 9s