I^KEHISTOIMC ClllSKl,. 21 



This brass or bronze chisel is exhibited by jNIr J. Gilloii 

 Fergussoii, of Isle, a member of this Society. It measures 6^ 

 inches in length and f inch in diameter. Mr "NV. Ivisou Macadam, 

 F.R.S.E., made the following analysis for Dr Joseph Anderson. 

 National Museum of Antiquities . 



Copper ... ... ... 8(J-8G per cent. 



Zinc 10-07 „ 



Tin 2-95 „ 



Iron Ul:.' 



100 

 This implement was found by 3Ir Moffat, plumber. Dumfries, in 

 an excavation, and by him presented to Mr Fergusson. These tools 

 are very rarely found in Scotland. One found in Sutherlandshire 

 was described, with this Dumfries one, by Dr Joseph Anderson, 

 whose paper will be found in the last volume of the Proceedings of 

 the Societi/ of Antiquaries of Scotland. Another from Glenluce is 

 pictured in the same article. Sir John Evans has tabulated about 

 twenty bronze chisels found in England. They are very rare on 

 the continent of Europe, and some have been found at Troy and in 

 Egypt. Dr. Anderson in tlie paper referred to says : " The use of 

 zinc as an alloy, in conjunction with copper and tin, is not a Bronze 

 Age characteristic, but points to a date less remote than that of 

 true bronze, in which zinc was never present, even as an impurity. 

 If we assume that the cylindrical chisel from Dumfries was prob- 

 ably a mason's chisel, as its shape imi^lies, Ave have to admit that 

 there is no evidence of hewn or surface-dressed stone-work for 

 which such a tool might be required, until the period of the 

 Koman occupation, when it is also to be remembered that iron was 

 in use. The researches of Gobel have shown that zinc is absent 

 even from the Greek bronzes, which are composed of copper, tin, 

 and lead. Zinc only begins to appear as an ingredient in Koman 

 alloys, and i: is only towards the commencement of the Christian 

 <!ra that it begins to be present in them." Dr. Anderson's sugges- 

 tion that this chi.sel was a mason's chi.sel Iiardlv seems to be tenable. 



