A bronze spear head ... African ?

Atlantia · 21st January 2009, 02:02 AM

Very nice!

Bronze is the material used for weapons, but 'bronze' covers a family of copper alloys with literally endless variations in recipe. Essentially its a mixture of Copper and tin, but there are plently of impurities and small amounts of other metals that find there way into the mix depending on where it was made.
Brass is usually mixed for a more 'brassy' gold decorative colour.
Unless the flash is bleaching the true colour out of your spearhead then it looks paler, with a browning patina. Like you'd expect from a bronze weapon.
Whats it like inside the shaft socket? There isn't much patina on the outisde.

Not sure where in Africa its from sorry.

Gene

21st January 2009, 02:02 AM	#2
Atlantia Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: The Sharp end Posts: 2,928	Very nice! Bronze is the material used for weapons, but 'bronze' covers a family of copper alloys with literally endless variations in recipe. Essentially its a mixture of Copper and tin, but there are plently of impurities and small amounts of other metals that find there way into the mix depending on where it was made. Brass is usually mixed for a more 'brassy' gold decorative colour. Unless the flash is bleaching the true colour out of your spearhead then it looks paler, with a browning patina. Like you'd expect from a bronze weapon. Whats it like inside the shaft socket? There isn't much patina on the outisde. Not sure where in Africa its from sorry. Gene