A decorative bronze knife handle from the Inca city of Machu pichu, Peru, dated to AD 1476-1534. It was found to have an average composition of 73% copper, 18% bismuth and 3% tin. This appears to be the first known example of the use of bismuth to make bronze. Analysis was carried out with an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometer attached to a scanningelectron microscope. -- AATA