The story interested me and I decided to pay a visit to the Truro Museum where I was informed that the bull was on display in the Egyptian section. Having looked at this tiny bronze figure tucked away at the bottom of a glass case I made my way to the Courtney Library which is in the same building to see what other information they had.
Now it seems that The Rev. Buller had a number of friends who were involved in Archaeology and he showed them the bull. And following inspection most decided it was of Phoenician origin based mainly on the fact that they were supposed to have worshipped the bull and some beads had recently been found near the Lands End which were believed to be Phoenician. Buller was skeptical feeling that it was more likely to have been Greek. The argument raged backwards and forwards within the Royal Cornwall Institute until in the end it was decided to send the bull off to the British Museum where a Mr S Birch examined it and decided that this was such a good find he would write a paper and present it to the Archaeological Institute. He also had it published in the twenty-fifth addition of that Institute's Journal.3.
Certain it is that these mariners brought Tin from the Cassiterides, which embraced the Scilly Isles and the coast of Cornwall.17. One of the most remarkable facts connected with the early races in Europe and Asia was the extensive use of weapons and implements of Bronze; and the noted British archeologist, Sir John Evans, shows that the use of Bronze preceded that of Iron in Egypt ." 18.
It comes from the palace of Sargon at Nineveh and shows a vessel loading timber, presumably cedar, and is dated around 700 BC.22. The timber cargo was partly stowed on deck and the rest was towed as a raft behind the ship. Evidence for this practice comes from King Hiram’s reply to Solomon about the supply for timber for his temple in Jerusalem: "My servants shall bring them down to Lebanon unto the sea; and I will convey them by sea in floats unto the place that thou shalt appoint me."23.
W. Dinan, M.A., mentions in his book: "Monumenta Historica Celtica"
For a full examination of the question, Did the Phcenicians trade with Britain for tin? the following works should be consulted :—“ History ot Maritime and Inland Discovery,” by W. D. Cooley; “Historical Survey of the Astronomy of the Ancients,” by Sir George Cornewall Lewis; “Commerce and Navigation of the Ancients,” by W. Vincent, D.D.; “Phanicia,” by John Kenrick, M. A.; “The Cassiterides: an Inquiry into the Commercial Operations of the Plitenicians in Western Europe, with Particular Reference to the British Tin Trade,” by George Smith, LLD., F.A.S.
Revised: January 08, 2005 .