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Groundbreaking study: Ancient tin ingots found in Israel were mined in England
Times of Israel ^ | 16 September 2019 | Amanda Borschel-Dan

Posted on 09/23/2019 7:55:01 AM PDT by SunkenCiv

When the Bronze Age hit ancient Israel, the copper-rich region was able to quickly source seven of the eight ingredients needed to produce the alloy at Timna and other mines. But where tin -- another one-eighth of the metal's recipe -- came from has been a lingering mystery for scholars. A new paper from an international team of researchers proposes a surprisingly faraway source -- Cornwall.

In a paper published in June on the open-access, peer-reviewed scientific journal PLOS One, the authors analyze 27 tin ingots, or blocks, from five sites bordering the eastern Mediterranean Sea. For decades, researchers have debated the origin of tin used in ubiquitous precious bronze throughout the Levant during the eponymous era, from the late fourth and third millennia BCE. Hypotheses have swung from close-by Turkey, central Asia, or far-flung France and Britain.

In their paper, "Isotope systematics and chemical composition of tin ingots from Mochlos (Crete) and other Late Bronze Age sites in the eastern Mediterranean Sea: An ultimate key to tin provenance?" a team of interdisciplinary scientists from Mannheim, Germany; Greensboro, North Carolina; Merano, Italy; and Haifa have what they call solid proof of where -- and where not -- the precious tin was likely mined...

The scholars used an earth-shattering approach to figure out the mine's locus. "By using a combined approach of tin and lead isotopes together with trace elements it is possible to narrow down the potential sources of tin for the first time," they write.

The most logical source? According to the authors, the most likely suppliers of the 13th-12th century BCE tin ingots from Israel are tin mines from Cornwall and Devon.

(Excerpt) Read more at timesofisrael.com ...


TOPICS: History; Science; Travel
KEYWORDS: ancientnavigation; bronzeage; copper; cornwall; crete; devon; godsgravesglyphs; israel; mochlos; navigation; tarshish; timna; timnavalley; tin
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To: SunkenCiv
***like a lot of fringe authors, he's an example of "when your only tool is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."***

A very cogent and thorough response. As far as I know a forensic geologist could be a grower of pet rocks; somehow I thought Wolter might analyze the structure of Great Lakes tin just as this posted story documents. I am not surprised that he is not properly trained to follow his declared discipline. He did a show about the legendary little people that supposedly settled Hawaii. It quickly became obvious that it was a scam to get an all expenses paid family vacation to Hawaii. Evidence of a low stone wall beside a road was beyond ridiculous.

You might find Bailey's book provocative and worthy of consideration. I am an amateur linguist and appreciate his efforts at comparative language elements. Drawing conclusions from such analysis is questionable but, as I say, it is provocative.

I had forgotten about the possible Roman ship in Brazil's Bay of Jars; a deep dive unmanned remote might prove useful. Probably no one will finance such a venture... too controversial. That was a central principle in my unpublished book that I mentioned a while back.

41 posted on 10/10/2019 6:24:14 AM PDT by Bob Ireland (The Democrap Party is the enemy of freedom.They use all the seductions and deceits of the Bolshevics)
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https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2019/09/theenigmaofb-1024x640.jpg

https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2015/04/ancient-cart-courtesy-of-the-Bible-Lands-Museum-Jerusalem.-1024x640.jpg

https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2019/09/1-theenigmaofb.jpg

https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2016/07/Coffin-Containing-an-Embalmed-Isis-1024x640.jpg

https://static.timesofisrael.com/www/uploads/2014/12/Dr-Ehud-Galili-taking-core-samples-from-the-newly-excavated-water-well-in-Kfar-Samir-1.jpg


42 posted on 11/26/2019 1:24:29 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Imagine an imaginary menagerie manager imagining managing an imaginary menagerie.)
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