06/17/2026
The majority of the famed Benin Bronzes were actually made of brass. However, the exact origin of that brass has remained a mystery for many years. Research has suggested that horseshoe-shaped brass rings traded by Europeans with West Africans may have been the source. Now, some archaeologists believe they have identified a specific type of ring that was produced using metal from mines located in what may be a surprising region.
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(© The Trustees of the British Museum/Art Resource, NY; Brandon Clifford, Whydah Pirate Museum, Yarmouth, Massachusetts)
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