Three claims for the use of brass in relatively early archaeological periods are discussed briefly. The results on some small pins reported to contain up to 21% zinc and dating back to the Bronze Age at Gezer in Palestine were published without indicating the analytical method and without any means of re-identifying the artifacts; the author is sceptical about their validity. Re-analysis of metal artifacts from Early Cyprot tombs at Vounous Bellapais (Cyprus), that had previously been claimed to contain zinc, failed to confirm the claim. Two Luristan cheek pieces from the Early lron Age, found to contain zinc, were found also to have false patina; the author apparently implies that they were recent imitations.