How in ancient times the Romans mined gold: photo of the largest Roman mine

In the north-west of Spain there is an unusual place with jagged steep hills of red hues and fluffy caps of greenery. This is an old mine of Las Medoulas for gold mining, which appeared back in ancient Rome.

The mine, developed in the 1st century AD, functioned for two centuries and was the largest in the Roman Empire.

The Romans used a special method of mining a precious breed - ruina montium, which literally translates as "destruction of the mountains." And these red mountains literally collapsed under the pressure of water.

The ancient Roman historian Pliny the Elder wrote about how hard work was carried out in these territories. He compared the work in the mine with the activity of the titans and said that gold mining even exceeds the work of famous heroes sung in myths.

The principle of operation was based on hydraulic energy. At the foot of the mountains, the Romans made a hole, and then water was let through it. The stream was so powerful that it crushed thick walls, exposing the soil rich in gold. In one year, approximately 6.5 tons of valuable rock were mined in this way.

When the land was depleted, the Romans abandoned the quarry, leaving spectacular traces of ancient destructive technologies. This place resembles the canyons along which the river once flowed, but this whole beautiful landscape is a human creation. Now there are everywhere - sharp mountains, cliffs, tunnels and underground galleries, and all this is surrounded by picturesque chestnut trees.