ABSTRACT

Mineral extraction has taken place since prehistoric times for a variety of products, but on what must have been a comparatively small scale. It was much enhanced during the Roman period, although most of the working was still confined to the surface. Ores of the main metals such as gold, silver, lead, tin, copper and iron were worked, as were the materials required by the construction industry such as stone, chalk and flint, gravel, sand and clay; moreover much clay was consumed by the pottery, brick and tile industries. All these activities must have resulted in many millions of tonnes being removed from the ground in many parts of the country. Yet it is surprising how little evidence remains. One reason for the lack of survival was caused by later re-working. The Romans were remarkably successful in locating the best quality materials, so much so that they were often followed by medieval and modern man who unfortunately destroyed or confused the earlier evidence.