Abstract
Copper in Early Britain Two communications on metallurgy in early Britain appear in the Proceedings of the University of Durham Philosophical Society, 9, Pt. 2. The first, by Dr. A. Raistrick and Dr. J. A. Smythe, describes a bronze celt, a fine specimen of the flanged type without stop ridge, found in the working of clay pits at Birtley. It falls naturally into a group of finds associated with the entry of the Bronze Age peoples into the area by way of the Wear Valley. The weight of the celt is 8 oz., its length 13-2 cm., and maximum width, cutting edge, 5 -2 cm., flange 2 -4 cm. A metallographic examination reveals that it is a bronze rich in tin, and the analytical results show that the copper and tin were of a high degree of purity. The metal had been cold-worked and afterwards annealed at a comparatively low temperature. In parts, particularly on the flanges, cold-working had followed the heat treatment. Tests for hardness with the Brinell machine gave the figures, in the thick parts 140, at the edge and sides 178, and at the flange 200. The second communication, by Mr. C. G. Whittick and Dr. J. A. Smythe, deals with a cake of copper from Carletown, Glasser-ton, Wigtownshire, of Roman origin. As it had been suggested that it might have come from the copper-mining area of Wales, it was compared with samples from four cakes found in North Wales and now in the British Museum. The Carleton cake appears to have been cast in a rude open mould or pan with edges expanding upward. In no case is there direct evidence of dating, though there is little doubt about the question of a Roman origin. The analysis and metallographic examination of the Carleton specimen agree in indicating that it is a lead-bronze alloy. A determination by recalculation of the character of the copper used shows that it is so similar to the four Welsh coppers as to make identity of origin extremely probable.
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Research Items. Nature 132, 824–825 (1933). https://doi.org/10.1038/132824a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/132824a0