Most of the artifacts and artwork donated by Mr. Raymond were accompanied by detailed descriptions which don’t fit well on exhibition labels. Here is one such story.

Slag
Timna Mine, (modern day) Israel
4000-1000 BCE
Object ID:  H1989-030-0079

“While opening up the ancient King Solomon mine (renamed Timna Mine), I found parts of an ancient copper smelter.  The oxidized copper ores were smelted in ceramic pots embedded in live charcoal.  This is the upper slag. Researchers found that Egyptians had mined there 4000 years ago.  They obtained the green copper minerals for making green eye-shade for the elite women. Also, the ores were used in coloring their tile and making copper metal objects after smelting. The mines were operated during the Roman occupation to a minor extent.  This slag probably dates around 1000 BC.” – Louis C. Raymond