1898.] on the Metals used hi/ the Great Nations of Antiqiutij. 619 



Conclusion. 



In tracing back the history of tliese great nations we have found 

 evidence of a time when metals were little, if at all, employed ; the 

 pott( r's art was well known, and early man became wonderfully 

 proficient in working hard stone, and especially flint. The earliest 

 indications we have of metals are of gold and copper, both being 

 scarce, and no doubt costly. Gold was probably the earliest to attract 

 the attention of mankind, bectuse it occurs native, of bright yellow 

 colour, and is easily worked. Copper, however, dates tj a similar 

 period, so far as the remains which have come down to us are concerned. 

 1^'robably the deep blue carbonate, such as occurs in Armenia, was 

 first worked. AVhen silver was first used is not very evident, but 

 it is certain that it was far more common in the northern portion 

 of the area we have been considering, than in the southern. The 

 metallurgy of co])per was doubtless a matter of much study and 

 experiment so as to produce the hardest metal. This seems to have 

 led to the knowledge of tin, but at what precise jieriod we know not ; 

 nor do we know whether it was brought from Etruria, or found in 

 some nearer region. Mines of tin were certainly worked at Cento 

 Camaielle, as Egyptian scarabs liave been found in the old W(^rk- 

 ings,* and near Campiglia and in Elba, as well as in the Iberian 

 peninsula. This seai-ch for the metals, and the necessity of carrying 

 the ore or rough metal to the places where it was wrought, or of the 

 finished material to distant customers, must have greatly promoted 

 C(mimerce. This took place both by land and sea, in caravans 

 and ships. In this way tools and other objects were disseminated 

 through the more distant jiarts of Europe and Asia ; the similarity 

 of type over large areas shows a common origin, and hence we can 

 even roughly form an opinion as to whether they were introduced 

 in earlier or later times. Thus, in Switzerland and Scai:dinavia 

 we meet with copper imi)lements as well as bronze, and ancient as 

 well as modern forms ; while in Britain we find no evidence of 

 copfier tools, though bronze objects are abundant. 



The Phcenicians, arriving on the eastern shore of the Mediter- 

 ranean from the direction of the Persian (lulf, formed an important 

 nation for about 1000 years, from B.C. 1400 to b.c. 400. They were 

 great artificers, but not having much originality they adopted the 

 patterns and designs of Egypt or Assyria. They were also j^re- 

 eminently traders, and founded cities and em2)oria of commerce, so 

 that their metal work was sj)read over all the Mediterranean. It is 

 to be found in Cyprus, mixed with the workmanship of the Grecian 

 Mycenaean age. Their ornamental jewellery was eagerly sought in 

 Etruria, Greece and Calabria ; for the beauty of it 1 may refer you 

 to the Etruscan cup of gold in the South Kensington Museum, and 



* ^ee ' Early Mau iu Britain/ by Prof. W, Boyd Dawkme= 



