A SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF N. MIDLANDS MEDIEVAL TILE PRODUCTION

Summary. This paper describes a study of neutron activation analyses of some medieval tiles from the North Midlands. Having established the feasibility of the method of analysis, we applied a number of multivariate statistical techniques to derive eleven reference groups, each consisting of tiles with similar compositions which could plausibly have originated from the same source of clay. While known kiln sites could be readily distinguished, less confidence could be placed on the results where it was suspected that several sources had been mixed. Design information on the tiles when combined with the analytical results has led to the conclusion that stamps may have been passed from one tilery to another, though in some cases the tiles themselves were moved. The reference groups have proved to be useful in our continuing research on the composition of tiles from this area.     

An ahrensburgian-type tanged point from shieldaig, wester ross, scotland, and its implications

Summary A newly recognized tanged flint point from Shieldaig in north-west Scotland is described and discussed in terms of its potential as an indicator of Lateglacial human settlement.     

SOLDERING ROMAN SILVER PLATE

Summary. Nineteen Roman silver objects, mainly from the British Museum's collection, with traces of solder, were examined by microscopy and analysed by x-ray fluorescence spectroscopy. The results are discussed in relation to work on soldered objects from earlier periods and to the contemporary literary sources which are reviewed, and the solder recipes listed. Pliny's recipes for stagnum, a solder for silver, and the evidence of soldering techniques provided by later texts are discussed in detail.
Silver-tin solders and a silver-mercury solder have been identified for the first time, and predate their first appearance in the literature. Experiments were made with tin and silver-tin solders and the results are discussed.