Mould for casting bronze spearheads

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This stone mould for casting a bronze spearhead was found near Campbeltown in Argyll. It was used sometime between 1500 and 1150 BC.

The two-piece mould was closed, and molten metal poured into the channel at the top. It produced spearheads with loops on the sockets.

Bronze objects could be made by melting bronze in a crucible in a furnace, and then casting it into shapes using moulds. At first, simple moulds were used for making flat objects. Later more complex moulds of clay and stone, like this one, were developed.

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• Online ID: 000-100-034-201-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  X.CM 3
• Date: Between 1500 and 1150 BC
  
• Material: Stone; for a spearhead
  Stone; for a spearhead
  Mould
  Mould
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Mould
  Mould
  
• Subject:
• Who:
• Where: Scotland, Argyll, Campbeltown
  
• Event:
• Description: One of a two-piece stone mould for a copper alloy socket-looped spearhead, from near Campbeltown
  One of a two-piece stone mould for a copper alloy socket-looped spearhead, from near Campbeltown
  
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