Feb.6] PROCEEDINGS. [1894.It does not follow thatthe metals were originallyin these relative
proportions,as the objects wereso corroded thata good dealof the
coppermayhavebeendissolvedaway. So high a proportion of tin
is very improbable.
LaterBronze. A specimen of this, belongingto the Israelitish
period,and supposed to date somewherebetween 1 100 and 800 b.C.,
was also muchoxidised; it gave the following proportionsof copper
andtin, viz., copper 63-4,andTin 7-5. Therewas no lead or
bismuth. Therewasa little chlorine. These relativeproportions,
in round numbers 9 to 1, are about whatis usually found in ancient
bronze. As we ascend throughthe Israelitish period,the bronze
objectsgraduallydisappear,andare replaced by iron ones.
Lead. An object whichseemedto be made out of a piece of
.thickleadwire, and of about the same age as the supposed nails
gave, on analysis, 98-46per cent, of lead, withtracesof antimony
andiron. No clear indicationof silver couldbe obtained.
Silver. Of about the same period wasa wire, bentsomewhat
intothe form of a bangle, whichconsisted principallyof silver. It
had a coating of chloride of silver, no doubt producedfrom the
chloridesof the soil. A piece cut off gave the following analysis:—
Silver ... ... 89-12
Chlorideof silver 1-92
Copper 650
Gold 144
Iron 0-2499-22Onepointof interest connectedwiththesemetallicobjectsfrom
Tell-el-Hesyis that we are able to trace in the same city the gradual
transition from copper tools to bronze ones, and their gradual
replacementas the manufacture of iron becamebetterunderstood.
It is curious, however,that flintimplementsare found from the
lowestAmorite to the highest Israeliteperiod,someof the latest
beingof very beautifulmanufacture.
It is worthy of notice that the lead is particularly pure. The
absenceof silver is remarkable ; and singularlyenough, no silver
wasfoundin a specimen of lead whichProf.FlindersPetriegave
me from the Greek templeof Neptune at Paestum, datingfromthe
97