Manchester Memoirs, Vol. xli. (1897), No. 14. 3 



of a building in Thebes, and probably dating from 

 1500-1000 B.C. Analysis shows that it is a true bronze, 

 its composition being — 



Copper 93-3 



Tin 6-8 



Iron 0*5 



This metal, it must be remembered, was not intended 

 for use as an implement but merely as a model, and 

 hence it had not been hardened by the addition of 

 cuprous oxide, as were some of the tools of similar date 

 analysed by Gladstone. The presence of tin also indi- 

 cates that the alloy is not of the highest antiquity, since 

 Berthelot has shown that a Copper Age preceded the 

 Bronze Age. It is interesting to note that the particular 

 bronze which was analysed had not been at all converted 

 into carbonate, and was quite free from any green coating, 

 although the opinion is held by some archaeologists that 

 articles which escape attack in this way may be classed 

 as pure copper. 



