1808.] on the Metals used hij the Great Nations of Antiquity. 611 



ways: (1) by hammering, (2) by the admixture of arsenic, (3) by 

 the admixture of tin, (4) by the admixture of zinc, (5) by the 

 presence of a certain amount of oxygen in the form of cuprous oxide. 

 As to arsenic, some of the oldest copper implements contain a notable 

 quantity. Dr. Percy found 2 "29 per cent, in a knife which was dug 

 up some distance below a statue of Rameircs II. ; and I found 3*9 per 

 cent, in a hatchet from Kahun, dating back to B.C. 2300, It is said, 

 however, that the addition of 0*5 per cent, of arsenic is sufficient to 

 produce a hardening effect; and many specimens of ancient copper 

 implements contain this amount, though the proportion of arsenic in 

 copper ores themselves rarely exceeds * 1 per cent. 



As to the admixture of tin. It is well known that bronze, the alloy 

 of cojDper and tin, is stronger than pure copper. The extent of this 

 depends upon the proporthjn of the two metals, and j)robably on other 

 circumstances. The oldest supposed occurrence of an admixture of 

 tin, is in a bronze rod, found by Flinders Petrie in a mastaba at 

 Medum, probably of the fourtli dynasty, which I found to contain 

 9*1 per cent, of tin.* It seemed so improbable that tin should be 

 employed at so remote a period, and that in sufficient quantity to 

 make what we call gun-metal, that I was suspicious of its genuineness, 

 notwithstanding the very circumstantial account of its discovery ; 

 but M. Berthelot has since found in a ring from a tomb at Dahshur, 

 believed to be not much later than the third dynasty, 8*2 per cent, 

 of tin; and in a vase of the sixth dynasty, 5*68 per cent, of tin. "j" 

 These seem to restore the credit of Dr. Petrie's specimen. At a later 

 period weak bronzes become common. Thus, at Kahun, tools found 

 in a carpenter's basket by Prof. Petrie contained varying amounts of 

 tin from 0-5 to 10 '0 per cent.; 6 or 7 per cent, of tin was subse- 

 quently common. Bronze implements abound in Egyj^t. I am able 

 not only to throw upon the screen representations of arrow- and 

 spear-heads and battle-axes, but, through the kindness of Sir John 

 Evans, to show a beautiful large spear-head with an inscription of 

 King Kames (b.c. 1750) down the blade. I am also indebted to 

 Prof. Hinders Petrie and Dr. Walker for this collection of imple- 

 ments of the twelfth dynasty from Illahun, including a fine mirror 

 with ivory handle, necklets, and a bronze casting for a knife, which 

 was never finished ; also many objects of the eighteenth dynasty, or 

 thereabouts, such as a sword, dagger and axe, together with mirrors, 

 bracelets, earrings and pendants, and a steelyard. My own collection 

 contains specimens of what are believed to be razors of different types, 

 and small statuettes of Osiris, Isis and others. 



As to the admixture of zinc. There does not seem to be any 

 specimen of brass, properly so called, found in Egypt within the 

 period of our inquiry ; but various attempts are known to have been 



* Particulars of this and other imaly&es may be foimd in 'Proceedings of the 

 Society of Biblical Archfeology, March 1^90, March 1892, and March 1891. 

 t Fcuilles a Dahchour e:i 189 1, pp. loG-9. 



