Tweet
For the latest news from Scotland see our ScotNews feed at:
https://electricscotland.com/scotnews.htm
Electric Scotland News
My Heritage
The biggest sale of the year is here! Our Black Friday DNA Sale starts today, and you know what that means: MyHeritage DNA kits are now on sale for the lowest price EVER. Seriously, this is the absolute lowest price ever and you won’t find another DNA test at these prices! You’ll also enjoy free shipping on 2 or more DNA kits.
Learn more at:
https://www.myheritage.com/dna
MyHeritage Publishes the 1950 U.S. Census: Search All States and Territories for Free!
Learn more at:
https://blog.myheritage.com/2022/11/...ories-for-free
-------
Festival of Heraldry
Saturday 3 December 2022. Venue: St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE. Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am (Admittance from 9:30 am to St Giles’ Cathedral)
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland and world news stories that can affect Scotland and as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines it becomes a good resource. I might also add that in a number of newspapers you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish which I do myself from time to time.
Governor General’s History Awards
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, will present Canada’s top history honours to outstanding Canadians during a ceremony taking place at the historic Residence of the Governor General at the Citadelle of Québec.
Read more at:
https://www.gg.ca/en/media/2022-gove...history-awards
Aberdeen chosen as venue for tall ships in 2025
The Tall Ships event is to return to Aberdeen, it has been announced.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland...tland-63679954
EU-Canada trade talks scuppered as Irish court rules deal would be illegal
Ireland's top court has ruled that ratification of an EU-Canada trade agreement would be in breach of the Irish constitution. Ireland's deputy leader Leo Varadkar said the judgment was "disappointing", but said that the Government was still committed to ratifying the trade deal in full.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...g-leo-varadkar
Tax rise for high earners in Scotland could actually leave budget worse off
The Fraser of Allander Institute said lowering the threshold of the top rate of tax would be less effective at raising revenue in Scotland
Read more at:
https://inews.co.uk/news/scotland/au...-worse-1981780
The story of the purple tomato
Why its success is a win for GM foods
Read more at:
https://capx.co/the-story-of-the-pur...-for-gm-foods/
For Adrienne, a victim betrayed
Woman who suffered domestic abuse dies after litany of failure by prosecutors and police
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/adrienne-mccartney
History of the clans
Author and historian Simon Sebag Montefiore on why the past is a family affair
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/history-of-the-clans/
Women are still dying because police are still thinking: Oh, it’s just a domestic
Expert’s call for urgent reform
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/women-...ust-a-domestic
Media
By Hamish Mackay in the Scottish Review
Read more at:
https://www.scottishreview.net/HamishMackay638a.html
Supreme Court rules against Scottish Government in IndyRef2 case in huge blow for Nicola Sturgeon
Judges in London have issued a unanimous decision against the Scottish Government plan for a second referendum.
Read more at:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/p...ttish-28556082
Supreme caught out
Today's Supreme Court ruling means that the SNP can no longer claim to have a mandate for a second Independence referendum that has been ruled explicitly and unambiguously beyond the remit of the Scottish Parliament. This doesn't change everything, but it's still a major blow to the nationalist cause.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/the-supreme-courts-r...-snp-for-years
Getting the Thanksgiving story straight
The pilgrims' failed socialist experiment often gets overlooked in the Thanksgiving story, but it remains salient to this day. Just a year after landing at Plymouth Rock, they abandoned collective land ownership and the colony soon began to prosper – a lesson we should all be thankful for
Read more at:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/r...story-straight
Unhelpful Clarifications
The Supreme Court judgment on the legality of a Scottish independence referendum can be broken down into three elements. Two are unsurprising but the third is very problematic.
Read more at:
https://www.centreonconstitutionalch...clarifications
Electric Canadian
Life and Letters of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
By Oscar Douglas Skelton (1921) in two volumes. Added these to the foot of our Sir Wilfrid Laurier page.
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/make...er_wilfrid.htm
Salt Seas and Sailormen
By Frederick William Wallace (1923) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...me0000wall.pdf
Thoughts on a Sunday Morning - the 20th day of November 2022 - Retired or Retiring
By The Rev. Nola Crewe
You can view this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...ed-or-retiring
The Lure of the Kilt
Dedicated to the Band of the 134th Batt., C. E. F. In attendance at the Ceremony in Westminster Abbey, commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Confederation of the Provinces of Canada, in the presence of their Majesties the King and queen. Words by George Cox.
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...eofthekilt.pdf
Tillicums of the Trail
Being Klondike Yarns Told to Canadian Soldiers Overseas by a Sourdough Padre By George C. F. Pringle, Chaplain in the Field with the Cameron Highlanders of Canada (1922) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...00prinuoft.pdf
Electric Scotland
Beth's Video Talks
November 23rd 2022 - Great Scott care of family papers
You can view this at:
https://electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
God's minute
A book of 365 daily prayers sixty seconds long for home worship (1916) (pdf)
Sent in from Pat where she said - It's very possible Malcolm MacLeod of PEI had to do with the making of this book, for which I am very thankful. It came to me from my Grandmother, Dad's Mother, who lived in NY, (Long Island) as he did, at the same time he lived and preached there in NYC.
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/bible/g...okof00phil.pdf
Drink and Society: Scotland 1870-1914
By Norma Davies Logan in two parts
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/lifesty...andsociety.htm
It’s time to talk to the neighbours
What about the neighbours? We're a fractious lot, the four nations of the United Kingdom. We're all facing the same daunting outlook yet progressive thinking is hindered by divisions within and across border lines and not at all helped by controlling top down rule of central government. If the UK breaks up we still have to live with the economic consequences of what's happening with the unruly bunch next door; isn't it time we talked to each other? In this latest contribution to the Sceptical constitutional debate, Glyndwr Cennydd Jones makes the case for constitutional collaboration in a UK-wide convention. (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...oftheIsles.pdf
Vain, hurtful, lying, worldly tales
Creed, belief, and practice in the life of Argyll Highlanders, in Scotland and America by Michael Newton (2003) (pdf)
You can read this research paper at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ales_Creed.pdf
Warfare in the West Highlands and Isles of Scotland, c. 1544-1615
By Ross Mackenzie Crawford (pdf)
You can read this research paper at:
https://electricscotland.com/history..._and_Isles.pdf
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in Section 1 of the December 2022 issue.
Hi everyone.
I hope you are all snuggly warm and enjoying the gorgeous if cold, weather.
My wonderful new printer is doing beautifully!
My old printer is still sitting on the porch - and I have another dead printer that needs to go bye-bye, but I can no longer lift the heavy printers. Eventually, somebody will come by and haul them off for me, I hope.
This issue has lots of things I know you will like. It has some Stone Mountain Highland Games 50th Anniversary photos by McMillian and Associates! There are four pages beginning on page 20.
We have the last part of Dr. Pete Hylton's last adventure in this issue, too.
Everyone is gearing up for a festive Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoy being with friends and family and have a scrumptious dinner.
Please remember to keep me posted about your email address and to send us Flower of the Forest information.
I just learned this week that there are substitutions for PageMaker. I am going to try to learn about those. Of course, if I find one that will work, it means I have to find another computer, too.
Mmmm. We'll see.
Please write me if you know anything about the PageMaker substitutions.
Thank you.
Aye,
beth
You can read this issue at:
https://electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
A Window in Thrums & Auld Light Idylls
By J. M. Barrie (1913) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...00barriala.pdf
The Poetical Works of William Falconer
With a Memoir by the Rev. John Mitford (1895)
You can read about his work at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...er_william.htm
A Saintly Site (Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides)
Added a YouTube video of a Time Team dig that found a Monastery on the Isle of Mull.
You can view this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history/mull/index.htm
The Restoration of England's Sea power
Being a second edition of The Navy and the Next War with four new chapters, including “Collective Security,” “Air Power and Sea Power” and the “Anglo-German Naval Treaty” by Captain Bernard Acworth, D.S.O., A.M.I.N.A., R.N. (retired) (1935) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...estoration.pdf
Rhum
Mesolithic and Later Sites at Kinloch, Excavations 1984–86 by Caroline R Wickham-Jones (pdf)
You can read this report at:
https://electricscotland.com/travel/...0-20221111.pdf
A Crack about the Kirk
For Kintra Folk (pdf)
You can read this book at:
https://electricscotland.com/bible/A...tra_Folk_A.pdf
Story
The Stone, Bronze, Iron Ages
Systematic writers on Archeology generally describe the cultural phenomena disclosed by the relics gathered on the inhabited sites and haunts of the prehistoric people of Europe under the three famous ages of Stone, Bronze, and Iron. It must not, however, be forgotten that those so-called ages are but undated stages in the sequence of events, each representing a group of objects sufficiently differentiated to be recognised as well-defined phases in the progress of European civilisation. This system of classification is founded on the fact that there was a time, in the history of mankind, when all industrial tools were made of stone, horn, bone, tooth, etc. After human organisations continued to exist for many ages with the assistance of such objects as could be manufactured from tins limited resources, a discovery was made which ultimately revolutionised all mechanical appliances for cutting purposes, and thus raised the culture and civilisation of the people to a higher degree than was previously possible.
This discovery was the art of making bronze, which simply consisted of adding 10 per cent, of tin to copper, a process which has the effect of rendering the latter sufficiently hard to give to cutting implements made of this amalgam a sharp edge. Before this discovery cutting implements made of pure copper had been tried, but they wore little better than those made of stone. This preliminary metallic stage—the so-called Copper Age—was not of long duration. It was otherwise with bronze, as its superior qualities for cutting and penetrating purposes became at once apparent. But its general application to the arts and industries was a somewhat slow process, especially in outlying districts such as Britain, where the new tools and implements had, in the first instance, to be imported at heavy expense. The transition from a lower stage of culture to a higher one involves a series of minor innovations on old customs, old mechanical usages, which vary in the course of time in different countries. Hence, the line of demarcation between the different ages is not sharply defined, the result of which is that many of the stone implements formerly in use survived in out-of-the-way districts long after the introduction of their analogue's in metal.
Man is not infrequently defined as a toolmaker, a definition which has the advantage of placing him in a category which excludes all other animals. In virtue of this monopoly he has practically discarded the natural means of self-preservation, with which Nature endowed him, and substituted in lieu of them all sorts of tools and appliances manufactured by his own hand. These mechanical inventions, or rather such of them as have reached our day, are now of inestimable value to archaeologists, as they disclose the technical skill, the capacity of adapting special means to special ends, and the general intelligence of their respective makers.
As soon as the metallurgic art had taken root among the prehistoric people of Europe, each country began to manufacture its own bronze objects, modelling them, in the first instance, after their analogues in stone, or imported metal specimens. Such a derivative connection can be traced not only between the flat bronze axe and the stone belt, but also between most of the other bronze implements and weapons and their prototypes in non-metallic materials. The original safety-pin occupies an intermediate stage between the primitive bone or bronze pin and the highly ornamented brooches, which were in use among the Celts, Saxons, and Scandinavians. Such evolutionary connections are often obscure, until all the intermediate links of a series are exhibited side by side.
In describing Bronze Age relics we must not fall into the common error of supposing that we are dealing with a brand new civilisation. The social organisations already founded by the Stone Age people are simply continued, but carried out with greater efficiency, in consequence of the substitution of bronze in their cutting and penetrating tools for the loss effective materials formerly used.
The bronze industry was cut short by the discovery of another metal, viz., iron, which gradually supplanted bronze in the manufacture of cutting implements. Although iron was known in Egypt about 1500 B.C. it was not utilized to any great extent for industrial purposes in Europe till about the ninth century B.C., by which time the Greeks, Italians, Etruscans, Illyrians, and Phoenicians wore settling down in their historic homes. No iron objects occur among the relics from the prehistoric cities of Troy, Tiryns, and Mycenae.
During the initiatory stages of the competition between iron and bronze it is probable that the result of the struggle depended on the comparative expense of the prediction of the respective metals, the former being possibly the dearer of the two. It cannot, however, be supposed that, in the face of the abundance and wide distribution of iron ores, the economic problem would have stood in the way had there been no other difficulty to be surmounted...
Whatever may have been the causes which kept this useful metal so long in the background, there are indications that on its first introduction into European civilisation it was a scarce commodity, and only used in small encrusted bands to decorate bronze objects. From these considerations it is evident that the mere knowledge of iron as a metal is not to be regarded an contemporaneous with its general introduction into the arts and industries of human civilisation.—“Prehistoric Britain,” by Robert Munro.
END
Weekend is almost here and hope it's a good one for you. Also a Happy Thanksgiving holiday to our American friends.
Alastair
https://electricscotland.com/scotnews.htm
Electric Scotland News
My Heritage
The biggest sale of the year is here! Our Black Friday DNA Sale starts today, and you know what that means: MyHeritage DNA kits are now on sale for the lowest price EVER. Seriously, this is the absolute lowest price ever and you won’t find another DNA test at these prices! You’ll also enjoy free shipping on 2 or more DNA kits.
Learn more at:
https://www.myheritage.com/dna
MyHeritage Publishes the 1950 U.S. Census: Search All States and Territories for Free!
Learn more at:
https://blog.myheritage.com/2022/11/...ories-for-free
-------
Festival of Heraldry
Saturday 3 December 2022. Venue: St Giles’ Cathedral, High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1RE. Time: 10:30 am – 11:30 am (Admittance from 9:30 am to St Giles’ Cathedral)
Scottish News from this weeks newspapers
Note that this is a selection and more can be read in our ScotNews feed on our index page where we list news from the past 1-2 weeks. I am partly doing this to build an archive of modern news from and about Scotland and world news stories that can affect Scotland and as all the newsletters are archived and also indexed on Google and other search engines it becomes a good resource. I might also add that in a number of newspapers you will find many comments which can be just as interesting as the news story itself and of course you can also add your own comments if you wish which I do myself from time to time.
Governor General’s History Awards
Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, will present Canada’s top history honours to outstanding Canadians during a ceremony taking place at the historic Residence of the Governor General at the Citadelle of Québec.
Read more at:
https://www.gg.ca/en/media/2022-gove...history-awards
Aberdeen chosen as venue for tall ships in 2025
The Tall Ships event is to return to Aberdeen, it has been announced.
Read more at:
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland...tland-63679954
EU-Canada trade talks scuppered as Irish court rules deal would be illegal
Ireland's top court has ruled that ratification of an EU-Canada trade agreement would be in breach of the Irish constitution. Ireland's deputy leader Leo Varadkar said the judgment was "disappointing", but said that the Government was still committed to ratifying the trade deal in full.
Read more at:
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world...g-leo-varadkar
Tax rise for high earners in Scotland could actually leave budget worse off
The Fraser of Allander Institute said lowering the threshold of the top rate of tax would be less effective at raising revenue in Scotland
Read more at:
https://inews.co.uk/news/scotland/au...-worse-1981780
The story of the purple tomato
Why its success is a win for GM foods
Read more at:
https://capx.co/the-story-of-the-pur...-for-gm-foods/
For Adrienne, a victim betrayed
Woman who suffered domestic abuse dies after litany of failure by prosecutors and police
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/adrienne-mccartney
History of the clans
Author and historian Simon Sebag Montefiore on why the past is a family affair
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/history-of-the-clans/
Women are still dying because police are still thinking: Oh, it’s just a domestic
Expert’s call for urgent reform
Read more at:
https://www.sundaypost.com/fp/women-...ust-a-domestic
Media
By Hamish Mackay in the Scottish Review
Read more at:
https://www.scottishreview.net/HamishMackay638a.html
Supreme Court rules against Scottish Government in IndyRef2 case in huge blow for Nicola Sturgeon
Judges in London have issued a unanimous decision against the Scottish Government plan for a second referendum.
Read more at:
https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/p...ttish-28556082
Supreme caught out
Today's Supreme Court ruling means that the SNP can no longer claim to have a mandate for a second Independence referendum that has been ruled explicitly and unambiguously beyond the remit of the Scottish Parliament. This doesn't change everything, but it's still a major blow to the nationalist cause.
Read more at:
https://capx.co/the-supreme-courts-r...-snp-for-years
Getting the Thanksgiving story straight
The pilgrims' failed socialist experiment often gets overlooked in the Thanksgiving story, but it remains salient to this day. Just a year after landing at Plymouth Rock, they abandoned collective land ownership and the colony soon began to prosper – a lesson we should all be thankful for
Read more at:
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/r...story-straight
Unhelpful Clarifications
The Supreme Court judgment on the legality of a Scottish independence referendum can be broken down into three elements. Two are unsurprising but the third is very problematic.
Read more at:
https://www.centreonconstitutionalch...clarifications
Electric Canadian
Life and Letters of Sir Wilfrid Laurier
By Oscar Douglas Skelton (1921) in two volumes. Added these to the foot of our Sir Wilfrid Laurier page.
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/make...er_wilfrid.htm
Salt Seas and Sailormen
By Frederick William Wallace (1923) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/tran...me0000wall.pdf
Thoughts on a Sunday Morning - the 20th day of November 2022 - Retired or Retiring
By The Rev. Nola Crewe
You can view this at:
http://www.electricscotland.org/foru...ed-or-retiring
The Lure of the Kilt
Dedicated to the Band of the 134th Batt., C. E. F. In attendance at the Ceremony in Westminster Abbey, commemorating the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Confederation of the Provinces of Canada, in the presence of their Majesties the King and queen. Words by George Cox.
You can read this at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...eofthekilt.pdf
Tillicums of the Trail
Being Klondike Yarns Told to Canadian Soldiers Overseas by a Sourdough Padre By George C. F. Pringle, Chaplain in the Field with the Cameron Highlanders of Canada (1922) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
http://www.electriccanadian.com/life...00prinuoft.pdf
Electric Scotland
Beth's Video Talks
November 23rd 2022 - Great Scott care of family papers
You can view this at:
https://electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
God's minute
A book of 365 daily prayers sixty seconds long for home worship (1916) (pdf)
Sent in from Pat where she said - It's very possible Malcolm MacLeod of PEI had to do with the making of this book, for which I am very thankful. It came to me from my Grandmother, Dad's Mother, who lived in NY, (Long Island) as he did, at the same time he lived and preached there in NYC.
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/bible/g...okof00phil.pdf
Drink and Society: Scotland 1870-1914
By Norma Davies Logan in two parts
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/lifesty...andsociety.htm
It’s time to talk to the neighbours
What about the neighbours? We're a fractious lot, the four nations of the United Kingdom. We're all facing the same daunting outlook yet progressive thinking is hindered by divisions within and across border lines and not at all helped by controlling top down rule of central government. If the UK breaks up we still have to live with the economic consequences of what's happening with the unruly bunch next door; isn't it time we talked to each other? In this latest contribution to the Sceptical constitutional debate, Glyndwr Cennydd Jones makes the case for constitutional collaboration in a UK-wide convention. (pdf)
You can read this at:
https://electricscotland.com/indepen...oftheIsles.pdf
Vain, hurtful, lying, worldly tales
Creed, belief, and practice in the life of Argyll Highlanders, in Scotland and America by Michael Newton (2003) (pdf)
You can read this research paper at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...ales_Creed.pdf
Warfare in the West Highlands and Isles of Scotland, c. 1544-1615
By Ross Mackenzie Crawford (pdf)
You can read this research paper at:
https://electricscotland.com/history..._and_Isles.pdf
Beth's Newfangled Family Tree
Got in Section 1 of the December 2022 issue.
Hi everyone.
I hope you are all snuggly warm and enjoying the gorgeous if cold, weather.
My wonderful new printer is doing beautifully!
My old printer is still sitting on the porch - and I have another dead printer that needs to go bye-bye, but I can no longer lift the heavy printers. Eventually, somebody will come by and haul them off for me, I hope.
This issue has lots of things I know you will like. It has some Stone Mountain Highland Games 50th Anniversary photos by McMillian and Associates! There are four pages beginning on page 20.
We have the last part of Dr. Pete Hylton's last adventure in this issue, too.
Everyone is gearing up for a festive Thanksgiving! We hope you enjoy being with friends and family and have a scrumptious dinner.
Please remember to keep me posted about your email address and to send us Flower of the Forest information.
I just learned this week that there are substitutions for PageMaker. I am going to try to learn about those. Of course, if I find one that will work, it means I have to find another computer, too.
Mmmm. We'll see.
Please write me if you know anything about the PageMaker substitutions.
Thank you.
Aye,
beth
You can read this issue at:
https://electricscotland.com/bnft/index.htm
A Window in Thrums & Auld Light Idylls
By J. M. Barrie (1913) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...00barriala.pdf
The Poetical Works of William Falconer
With a Memoir by the Rev. John Mitford (1895)
You can read about his work at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...er_william.htm
A Saintly Site (Isle of Mull, Inner Hebrides)
Added a YouTube video of a Time Team dig that found a Monastery on the Isle of Mull.
You can view this at:
https://electricscotland.com/history/mull/index.htm
The Restoration of England's Sea power
Being a second edition of The Navy and the Next War with four new chapters, including “Collective Security,” “Air Power and Sea Power” and the “Anglo-German Naval Treaty” by Captain Bernard Acworth, D.S.O., A.M.I.N.A., R.N. (retired) (1935) (pdf)
You can read this book at:
https://electricscotland.com/history...estoration.pdf
Rhum
Mesolithic and Later Sites at Kinloch, Excavations 1984–86 by Caroline R Wickham-Jones (pdf)
You can read this report at:
https://electricscotland.com/travel/...0-20221111.pdf
A Crack about the Kirk
For Kintra Folk (pdf)
You can read this book at:
https://electricscotland.com/bible/A...tra_Folk_A.pdf
Story
The Stone, Bronze, Iron Ages
Systematic writers on Archeology generally describe the cultural phenomena disclosed by the relics gathered on the inhabited sites and haunts of the prehistoric people of Europe under the three famous ages of Stone, Bronze, and Iron. It must not, however, be forgotten that those so-called ages are but undated stages in the sequence of events, each representing a group of objects sufficiently differentiated to be recognised as well-defined phases in the progress of European civilisation. This system of classification is founded on the fact that there was a time, in the history of mankind, when all industrial tools were made of stone, horn, bone, tooth, etc. After human organisations continued to exist for many ages with the assistance of such objects as could be manufactured from tins limited resources, a discovery was made which ultimately revolutionised all mechanical appliances for cutting purposes, and thus raised the culture and civilisation of the people to a higher degree than was previously possible.
This discovery was the art of making bronze, which simply consisted of adding 10 per cent, of tin to copper, a process which has the effect of rendering the latter sufficiently hard to give to cutting implements made of this amalgam a sharp edge. Before this discovery cutting implements made of pure copper had been tried, but they wore little better than those made of stone. This preliminary metallic stage—the so-called Copper Age—was not of long duration. It was otherwise with bronze, as its superior qualities for cutting and penetrating purposes became at once apparent. But its general application to the arts and industries was a somewhat slow process, especially in outlying districts such as Britain, where the new tools and implements had, in the first instance, to be imported at heavy expense. The transition from a lower stage of culture to a higher one involves a series of minor innovations on old customs, old mechanical usages, which vary in the course of time in different countries. Hence, the line of demarcation between the different ages is not sharply defined, the result of which is that many of the stone implements formerly in use survived in out-of-the-way districts long after the introduction of their analogue's in metal.
Man is not infrequently defined as a toolmaker, a definition which has the advantage of placing him in a category which excludes all other animals. In virtue of this monopoly he has practically discarded the natural means of self-preservation, with which Nature endowed him, and substituted in lieu of them all sorts of tools and appliances manufactured by his own hand. These mechanical inventions, or rather such of them as have reached our day, are now of inestimable value to archaeologists, as they disclose the technical skill, the capacity of adapting special means to special ends, and the general intelligence of their respective makers.
As soon as the metallurgic art had taken root among the prehistoric people of Europe, each country began to manufacture its own bronze objects, modelling them, in the first instance, after their analogues in stone, or imported metal specimens. Such a derivative connection can be traced not only between the flat bronze axe and the stone belt, but also between most of the other bronze implements and weapons and their prototypes in non-metallic materials. The original safety-pin occupies an intermediate stage between the primitive bone or bronze pin and the highly ornamented brooches, which were in use among the Celts, Saxons, and Scandinavians. Such evolutionary connections are often obscure, until all the intermediate links of a series are exhibited side by side.
In describing Bronze Age relics we must not fall into the common error of supposing that we are dealing with a brand new civilisation. The social organisations already founded by the Stone Age people are simply continued, but carried out with greater efficiency, in consequence of the substitution of bronze in their cutting and penetrating tools for the loss effective materials formerly used.
The bronze industry was cut short by the discovery of another metal, viz., iron, which gradually supplanted bronze in the manufacture of cutting implements. Although iron was known in Egypt about 1500 B.C. it was not utilized to any great extent for industrial purposes in Europe till about the ninth century B.C., by which time the Greeks, Italians, Etruscans, Illyrians, and Phoenicians wore settling down in their historic homes. No iron objects occur among the relics from the prehistoric cities of Troy, Tiryns, and Mycenae.
During the initiatory stages of the competition between iron and bronze it is probable that the result of the struggle depended on the comparative expense of the prediction of the respective metals, the former being possibly the dearer of the two. It cannot, however, be supposed that, in the face of the abundance and wide distribution of iron ores, the economic problem would have stood in the way had there been no other difficulty to be surmounted...
Whatever may have been the causes which kept this useful metal so long in the background, there are indications that on its first introduction into European civilisation it was a scarce commodity, and only used in small encrusted bands to decorate bronze objects. From these considerations it is evident that the mere knowledge of iron as a metal is not to be regarded an contemporaneous with its general introduction into the arts and industries of human civilisation.—“Prehistoric Britain,” by Robert Munro.
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Weekend is almost here and hope it's a good one for you. Also a Happy Thanksgiving holiday to our American friends.
Alastair