Are there any evidences of records which were engraven on metal plates such as were "the plates of brass" ? (see 1 Nephi 5:10) While the brass plates might have required a knowledge of Egyptian to read them (see Mosiah 1:4), the records primarily concerned the history of the Israelites. According to William Hamblin, specific Hebrew examples of writing on metal plates are relatively limited in number, but clearly attest to the practice. For example:
(1) The oldest example of Hebrew writing on metal is the engraved gold plate attached to the front of the turban of the high priest. According to Exodus 28:36, Moses was ordered to "make a plate (tzitz) of pure gold, and engrave upon it as an engraved seal (khotem), "Holy to Yahweh."
(2) Excavations in the late 1970's uncovered First Temple period tombs at Ketef Hinnom, near Jerusalem. Among the artifacts discovered in this dig were two small silver plates dating to the seventh century B.C., containing the priestly benedictions found in Numbers 6:24-26 and representing "the earliest known fragments of the biblical text."
(3) In 161 B.C. Judas Maccabaeus concluded a treaty with the Romans which "the Romans engraved on bronze tables and sent to Jerusalem for the Jews to keep there as a record" (1 Maccabees 8:22). Josephus' account states, however, that the Jews themselves engraved the document in bronze. In his analysis of this incident Jonathan Goldstein concludes that since there are no other known instances of Romans sending bronze treaties to their allies (as opposed to keeping copies of the treaties on bronze plates in Rome), Josephus' account is probably more accurate. Later, in 140 B.C., when Simon was proclaimed by the Jews as both high prist and prince, "they ordered that this text [of Simon's privileges and responsibilities] be drawn up on bronze tablets and set up in the precinct of the sanctuary [of the temple] in a conspicuous place and that copies of the tablets be placed in the treasury [of the temple] so as to be available for Simon and his sons." These examples clearly indicate that, following the common practice of most other cultures of the eastern Mediterranean, the Jews kept records of important historical documents on bronze plates in their temple.
(4) The most well-known example of Hebrew writing on metal plates is the famous Copper Scroll (3C15) from Qumran (1st Century A.D.), containing a list of hidden temple treasures.
The evidence leaves no doubt that the Hebrews had a longstanding tradition dating at least to the First Temple period (well before 587 B.C.) of writing sacred texts on metal plates for amulets, inscriptions, and literary documents. [William J. Hamblin, "Sacred Writings on Bronze Plates in the Ancient Mediterranean," F.A.R.M.S., 1994, p. 2]