Brass: more than just doorknobs and monkeys
By Hayley Birch
Columbus must have thought his luck was in when he arrived in the Caribbean after months at sea. No doubt he was spread-eagled on a deckchair, Malibu in hand, faster than you could say “Santa Maria”. And what a hoot he and his crew must have had upon discovering that the natives traded, not in gold or diamonds, but brass.
Yes, despite an abundance of gold in the region, fifteenth century Cubans traded in brass, or zinc-copper alloy if you want to get technical. And this would have delighted the invading Europeans, who were practically dripping with the stuff. In those days brass wasn’t just for doorknobs and monkeys. It was what they used to secure their clothing and stop the ends of their laces fraying – if you look at your shoe you’ll see we use little bits of clear plastic nowadays. According to archaeologists at University College London, Cubans prized these ‘lace tags’ so highly that they turned them into precious ornaments conferring supernatural powers to their owners.
Researchers studied burial material from El Chorro de Maita, one of Cuba’s largest archaeological sites. A surprising number of the small brass tubes were buried alongside more conventional trinkets made of pearl and coral and are now thought to have originated in Germany.
Dr Marcos Martinon-Torres led the project. He said that it was partly the smell that made brass appeal to the Cubans. Eau de Brass, there’s a thought for Chanel.
To read more about Hayley or to view more of her articles click here
Yes, despite an abundance of gold in the region, fifteenth century Cubans traded in brass, or zinc-copper alloy if you want to get technical. And this would have delighted the invading Europeans, who were practically dripping with the stuff. In those days brass wasn’t just for doorknobs and monkeys. It was what they used to secure their clothing and stop the ends of their laces fraying – if you look at your shoe you’ll see we use little bits of clear plastic nowadays. According to archaeologists at University College London, Cubans prized these ‘lace tags’ so highly that they turned them into precious ornaments conferring supernatural powers to their owners.
Researchers studied burial material from El Chorro de Maita, one of Cuba’s largest archaeological sites. A surprising number of the small brass tubes were buried alongside more conventional trinkets made of pearl and coral and are now thought to have originated in Germany.
Dr Marcos Martinon-Torres led the project. He said that it was partly the smell that made brass appeal to the Cubans. Eau de Brass, there’s a thought for Chanel.
To read more about Hayley or to view more of her articles click here
Image: Robert Aichinger/SXC
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