Bernd Scheel

Part of a series published in the 1980s-1990s; each slim volume documents one aspect of ancient Egyptian civilization. This one’s about metal working; numerous illustrations show Egyptian metalsmiths hammering, chiseling, and casting metal objects – copper and bronze. The author, Bernd Scheel, notes Egyptian copper had naturally high levels of arsenic, which made it harder than pure copper; it’s also noted that the use of bronze came relatively late compared to other cultures, and it isn’t know exactly where the Egyptians got the necessary tin from. A lot of the illustrations show Egyptian smelting and melting, with forced air being supplied by several men using blowpipes; however, there are also illustrations of a “dish bellows”, with a pottery dish used as a piston to force air out of a matching pot by foot pressure. Interesting and instructive, although probably out of date now. A short bibliography with most of the references in German.… (más)