Random Fact

India tested its first nuclear bomb in 1974.


Geek of the week

Nominate someone...

Nominate a Geek. Email news@null- hypothesis.co.uk

Brass: more than just doorknobs and monkeys

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

Image: Robert Aichinger/SXC

Return to the top »

Share this

Bookmark this article at Digg Bookmark this article at del.icio.us Bookmark this article at Slashdot Bookmark this article at StumbleUpon Email this article to a friend

LATEST CONTENT

Search




RSS FEED

Register with The Null
10 Apr 2009
Website by Forward Slash Media and Bristol Developers