Αρχαία περίφραξη μεταλλευτικού φρέατος στην Αγία Τριάδα της Λαυρεωτικής
Part of : Αρχαιολογικά ανάλεκτα εξ Αθηνών ; Vol.XXIX-XXXI, No.1, 1996, pages 163-174
Issue:
Pages:
163-174
Parallel Title:
Ancient wall around a mine shaft at Ayia Triada, Lavreotiki
Section Title:
Σύμμεικτα
Author:
Abstract:
The intensive exploitation of the silver mines of Attica in Classical times led to the opening of a large number of mine shafts and ventilation shafts. All of these, especially those that belonged to old, abandoned mines, were undoubtedly potential death-traps for miners and metallurgists of the region, and indeed for other residents or passers-by, such as shepherds, travellers, hunters, and so on. They were particularly dangerous at night-time, because there their mouths and rims had no covers, and they were usually quite difficult to be seen. There is no ancient evidence bearing on how Classical miners dealt with the risk, but a mine shaft discovered recently at Ayia Triada in Lavreotiki, suggests that they constructed a large, Π-shaped enclosure with a strong dry-stone wall around the mouth of the shaft, leaving a sizeable area measuring approximately 11x6 m. in which workers could come and go, deposit their tools, etc. On the fourth, open side of the enclosure waste from the digging of the shaft or the galleries was deposited, creating a large heap. This waste heap meant that the enclosure was closed on all four sides and it was therefore impossible for an unsuspecting passerby to fall down the shaft. Protective enclosure walls were probably also made of other materials, such as wood, rubble, bushes, etc.
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
κλασική εποχή, Αττική
Notes:
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