40 



Prehistoric Bronze Bells from Japan. 



there were apparently no signs, symbols, or written characters ; 

 the ornamentation in every case being of the simplest kind, 

 similar to the geometrical designs on the specimens figured in 

 the accompanying plate. 



These bells evince considerable metallurgical skill on the 

 part of the people of the bronze age in Japan. They show 

 unmistakable signs of having been cast, apparently in moulds 

 of sand. The metal is quite thin, averaging in the larger 

 bells little more than one-eighth of an inch, but at the same 

 time remarkably uniform and showing but few flaws. The 

 lines of the pattern are clear and distinct. 



I add the composition of the bronze of these bells, as de- 

 termined by analyses made by students in the School of Mines, 

 under the direction of Prof. H. C. Bolton. For comparison, 

 I have placed in parallel columns analyses of some modern 

 Japanese bronzes, etc. 





Prehistoric Bronzes. 



Modem Bronzes 



and 



Modern 





Large Bell. 



Small Bell. 



" Old Bronze Vases 

 Ornaments." 



Crude Copper. 



Copper. . 



94.30 



79.75 



85.30 



83.70 



71.00 



73 48 \ 



Copper 



— 



Tin 



2.84 



11.44 



8.90 



5.38 



5.50 



7.18 



Silver 



0.03 



Lead 



2.40 



7.32 



4.70 



7.80 



20.35 



13.07 



Lead 



0.46 



Iron 



0.32 



•0.08 



1.10 



0.65 



1.84 



1.10 



Iron 



0.75 



Arsenic 



- 



none. 



traces, traces. 



- 



traces. 



Arsenic . . . 



traces. 



Zinc 



- 



- 



— 1.85 



1.34 



5.18 



Antimony 



none. 



Nickel . . 



- 



0.92 



- | - 



— 



- 



Sulphur . . . 



0.36 





99.86 



99.51 



100.00 



99.38 



100.03 



100.01 





- 



Analyst 



K. Nambu. 



R W. Taylor. 



Dr. Geerts. 



W. Gotland. 



A duplicate analysis of the large bell by Mr. K Matsui 

 gave results agreeing closely with those obtained by Mr. 

 Nambu. * The composition of the small bell is the average of 

 three analyses by Mr. Taylor. 



* These gentlemen aie Japanese students from the University of Tokio, now at the 



School of Mines of this city 



