Mines Database

 

The new visualisations for the updated version of this database are currently under construction. When they are finished they will be available to explore on this page. In the meantime, please visit our old website for the existing version of the Mines Database.

Trial versions of two of the new visualisations are now available, where you can explore maps and charts of the mine data.

About the database

This database provides information on the mines of the Roman empire, principally those producing the main metals used in the production of coinage: gold, silver and copper. Since many silver mines also produced lead from the same ores, many lead mines are listed, and some iron mines have also been included, although the coverage of lead and iron mines cannot yet be regarded as systematic. We do hope to have included the known gold, silver and copper mines, although we would always be grateful to receive notification of new discoveries, or of omissions or errors in our database.

The database was compiled by Andrew Wilson and by Dr Hannah Friedman during her employment as an OXREP Research Assistant.

For each mine, information is recorded on: Name, Mining Area, Country, [Roman] Province, Longitude, Latitude, Date range, Metals produced (Gold, Silver, Copper, Lead, Iron), and the number of mines at the site.

It should be noted that dating of Roman mining is difficult, and little or no information is available for many sites. For mines in Dacia, broad date ranges have been assigned based on the Roman occupation of the province.

 

Citing the database

To cite this database please use the following reference:

Wilson, A. I. and Friedman, H. (2018). Database of Roman mines, Version 2.0 (OxREP databases). Accessed [date]: https://oxrep.web.ox.ac.uk/mines-database

 

mines map visualisation