The Excavations at Phylakopi in Melos, 1911: § 7.—Miscellaneous Finds

Abstract

Evidence of the local use of bronze or copper appeared amongst the deposits in H 5 1 in the shape of several pieces of small clay crucibles. None of them were complete, but the two best examples, shewn on Plate VII give the shape. They were spoon-shaped vessels about ·24 m. long by ·16 m. wide, made of coarse dark clay with a spout at one end; this is seen in the left-hand example on the plate. They stood on three short legs so arranged that the crucible could be tilted forward and cause the molten metal to flow out of the spout into the mould. That they had seen some service was proved by the remains of metal which clung to their inner surface. A fragment of such a crucible was found in the old excavation and two broken stone moulds, one for a Double Axe. Such a Double Axe, shewn on Pl. XIV, 59, was found this year together with a bronze spear-head, in a cleft between two stones almost immediately above the rock underneath a floor-level in H 4 15. They had the appearance of being in a sort of cache and probably belonged to a later period than that of the First City, to which their actual level would assign them. The only other bronzes found were the arrowhead and knife shewn on Pl. XIV (Nos. 58 and 60).