Mining under empire: exploiting the metal resources of Roman Dacia

Lim, SY

Oxford Thesis Collection

Thesis

Mining under empire: exploiting the metal resources of Roman Dacia

Abstract:: This thesis explores how the Romans managed the metal resources of Roman Dacia, and the impact that the advent of Roman rule had on mining in the province. Roman Dacia has long been a byword in the scholarly literature for its mineral wealth, but modern archaeological research on the mining remains has thus far been lacking until the excavations at Roșia Montană took place between 1999 and 2013. Through a synthesis of the archival literature and the latest results from the Roșia Montană excavations, this project demonstrates the vibrancy and diversity of mining in Dacia, arguing that the Romans were able to exploit the metal deposits of Dacia more effectively and on a larger scale than their predecessors through the application of mining technology and experience acquired elsewhere in the Empire. It illustrates how Roșia Montană was probably the foremost mining site in Dacia, but that the Romans also identified and exploited almost all the known mining regions in the province. The diversity of their methods allowed for adaptation to local circumstances both in terms of the geological and administrative needs of specific mining sites. To supplement the secondary research, ground-truthing to verify possible hydraulic-mining remains identified through satellite imagery was also undertaken. Key results of this study include establishing type-sites for hard-rock mining and hydraulic mining at Roșia Montană, and at Bucium and Pianu de Sus respectively, to aid in the identification of other similar workings in Dacia. This thesis also makes available, for the first time, the fullest treatment of the mines of Roman Dacia in English and provides a gazetteer of sites for future work.

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APA Style

Lim, S. (2018). Mining under empire: exploiting the metal resources of Roman Dacia [PhD thesis]. University of Oxford.

MLA Style

Lim, SY. Mining under Empire: Exploiting the Metal Resources of Roman Dacia. 2018. University of Oxford, PhD thesis.

Chicago Style

Lim, SY. 2018. “Mining under Empire: Exploiting the Metal Resources of Roman Dacia.” PhD thesis, University of Oxford.
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