Foote and Buell — Peruvian Bronze Axes. 

 Fig. 4. Fig. 5. 



131 



Fig. 4. Showing structure ou edge of new axe. Made from metal shown 

 in fig. 2. Crystals somewhat distorted due to hammering. 



Fig. 5. Showing crystals near edge on axe No. 1. The structure of 

 the metal was poor and it was impossible to get a very good etching. 



function of the temperature and the size can be increased by 

 raising the temperature. The time of heating is not impor- 

 tant except at low temperatures or when the heating has been 

 continued for a long time, for example, for several days. 



Fig. 6. 



Fig. 



Fig. 6. Showing crystals in center of axe No. 1. The structure of 

 the metal was poor and it was impossible to get a very good etching. 



Fig. 7. Showing fine crystals, which occur only at one point of edge on 

 axe No. 3. 



Taking into acconnt the facts of micro-structure and that 

 the axe has been forged, it is fair to infer that after casting 

 the original alloy, it was heated to a temperature considerably 

 above 500° and either forged hot or quenched suddenly and 

 forged cold. This required a very considerable degree of skill 

 on the part of the original makers. 



