Proceedings of the Society of Biblical Archaeology

Mar.4] SOCIETYOF BIBLICAL ARCH.EOLOGY. [189a

Tracesof sulphur werealso foundin the large hatchet,but no
phosphorus.
Themaininterestof these analysesconsistsin the much larger
amountof tin. Therecan be no doubt thatby this timethe value
of an admixture of tin was recognized, and thesetools mayfairly
be described as bronze.

Bronze Figures.

Mr. Joseph Offord,jun.,to whom I owe the inception of this

work,sometimeago placed at my disposal a bronze figureof Osiris

which was rapidly falling to pieces in his cabinet of Egyptian

Antiquities. I found thatit consisted of a solid metallicstatuette

covered witha light greencoating that disintegrated very easily.

Themetallicportionwaslike copperin colour, but as analysed by

my assistant, Mr. T. A. Rose, it gave :—

Copper... ... ... 87T,

Tin,withsilica ... 6*3

Lead ... ... ... 4^4

Ironandalumina ... traces

978

The outsidecrustwasevidentlyfar from homogeneous. It was a

mixtureof hydrated oxideswitha little carbonate,and,whatis more

remarkable,a large amountof chlorides andoxychlorides. In one

portionanalysedthe amount of chlorine wasas much as 177 per

cent.: the lead wasproportionallygreater in this crust thanin the

alloyitself,about 6 per cent., whichmeans about 9 or 10 per cent,

of the metallic constituents.

I am informed by Mr. Petriethat ancientbronzes whichhave

laid longin the soil of Egypt are very apt to be corroded by the

chlorideof sodium or ammonium presentin the soil. Thematerials

maythen set up a continuous electro-chemicalaction, moreand

moreof the metal beingconverted ultimatelyintothe oxide, while

the liberated chlorine attacksfreshportionsof the metal. In the

case of Mr. Offord's statuette, the action seems to have been

peculiarlyenergetic.

Mr. Offord alsogaveme a head of Pasht which was disinte

grating,but more slowly. It was foundto be copper mixedwith

ironand a little lead,withmere tracesof tin, arsenic andalumina.

It also containeda small amountof chloride.

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