Mining, Migration, and Movement in Roman Iberia

Summary

The Iberian Peninsula was a rich source of metals in antiquity, and indigenous people practiced mining in many areas from at least 4000 BCE. Following Roman conquest of the region in the late 3rd century BCE, the scale of mining increased dramatically to accommodate the growing needs of the Roman Empire from the production of coins to the creation of urban water infrastructure. This growth catalyzed episodes of migration of people and movement of materials in ways that stimulated both regional and empire-wide connectivity. In this paper, I explore these changing patterns of movement—both of people and goods—in and out of major mining districts in southern Iberia. I argue that the migration of Italians into Iberia soon after Roman conquest contributed to the diversification of communities in the countryside, and the development of lasting connections between these areas and other parts of the empire. By contrast, in later centuries, increased movement of people and goods within the peninsula stimulated connectivity regionally, increasing provincial ties. Understanding connectivity brought about by the demands of mining ultimately sheds light on the relationship between natural resources, the formation of diverse communities, and the creation of empire in Roman Iberia.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Connectivities in Prehistoric and Classical West/Central Mediterranean

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 15170