Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 29.djvu/181

NOTES ON THE rRE-niSTORIC ARCHJilOLOGY OF EAST DEVON. ' By tho Uov. RICHARD KIRWAX, M.A., F.E.S., Rector of Gittisham. If we had to determine d priori which of the two metals occurring abundantly in Devonshire — copper and iron — was first discovered and employed in the fabrication of imple- ments for hunting and warfare, we should at once decide in lavour of that which is most easily recognised as a metal in its native state. We know that copper occurs in a state of such comparative purity as to require but little smelting for the purpose of being brought into a condition that will admit of its being beaten at once into shape ; whilst, on the other hand, iron is hardly ever found except in the form of ore, and before it can be worked at all must be subjected to the j)rocess of smelting, whilst exposed to a temperature higher than that which can be obtained from an ordinary fire. In Devon tin, from its abundance, and from the great heaviness of its ores, would easily attract attention ; and it may have been that when metals were scarce and correspondingly valuable, some tin would be added to copper in order to make up the quantity required for a casting. The alloy thus accidentally made would then be found to have pro- perties different from either of its components, and experience would soon dictate the most advantageous amount of tin that must be added to copper in order to make it better suited for cutting instruments. Hence arose that mixed metal to which the name of bronze has been given, consisting of nine parts of copper to one of tin, and which, according to the oldest classical w^riters, was in general use before iron was rendered available. ' Thia memoir, read at the meeting of sion. It is in continuation of liis valuable the Devonshire Association at Bidefortl, coinmuuieations piiblisheil in this Journal, in August, 1871, and published in their vol. xxvi. p. 341; and in this volume, Tran.sactions, vol. iv. p. 641, is here p. 34, aute. reproduced by the author's kind permLs-