Mining in the Later Roman Empire and Beyond: Continuity or Disruption?

Abstract

One of the more tangible benefits that accrued to Rome from the conquest of an empire was the acquisition of significant mineral resources, significant because Italy, although rich in iron, could not provide a sufficient supply of the whole range of metals needed by the Roman state for coinage and by members of the élite for the luxury artefacts that helped to enhance their social status. Once Rome had gained control over metalliferous regions of the Mediterranean, Romans, and especially Italians, were not slow to become involved in mining overseas, while the state came to gain considerable revenue from the leasing of contracts for the right to exploit state-owned mineral resources.

Local mining or lead importation in the Roman province of Africa Proconsularis? Lead isotope analysis of curse tablets from Roman Carthage, Tunisia

“…There was a tendency of ancient authors to write mainly of large mining projects and regions with the exclusion of small scale operations (Edmondson, 1989). Additionally the limited archaeological evidence left by small scale mining eventually results in the underrepresentation of local small scale mining in any Roman area (Edmondson, 1989).…”

“…Additionally the limited archaeological evidence left by small scale mining eventually results in the underrepresentation of local small scale mining in any Roman area (Edmondson, 1989). While Edmondson focused on Europe and primarily precious metals, the same arguments apply to local exploitation of base metal resources in Africa Proconsularis (now the modern country of Tunisia).…”

Dating Archaeological Strata in the Magna Mater Temple Using Solid‐state Voltammetric Analysis of Leaded Bronze Coins

“…The use of Pb is strictly related to the history, the political and the economic issues of the Roman Empire: lead minerals were largely available in the territory under strict Roman control. On the other hand, Romans lost tin mines located in London or in Salamanca during the German invasion in the fifth century . However, the Romans knew that the variations of elemental composition in bronze could affect its inherent characteristics.…”

The settling factors of Roman villas in southern Lusitania

“…The raw materials of the quarries and mines with the workshops were one of the most important economic factors of Roman Portugal, especially in the northern areas (Edmondson 1989, Moutinho Alarcão 1997. The number of mines in the southern parts is lower; there are only seven sites in the municipalities examined here (there are four mines in the municipality of Silves, mainly copper mines, two in Loulé, and only one in Albufeira): these mines are in the ca.…”