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The Mining Complex of Braçal and Malhada, Portugal: Lead Mining in Roman Times and Linking Historical Social Trends – Amphitheatre Games

2010; Cambridge University Press; Volume: 13; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1177/1461957109359975

1741-2722

Carla María Braz Martins,

The mining complex of Braçal and Malhada was the chief lead exploration site in Portugal in Roman times. This article outlines the type of mining conducted on site and discusses the associated findings, which point to a date in the mid-first century AD. Some aspects of the findings offer a new perspective on the relationship between mining sites and places of entertainment, in other words, the likelihood of temporary amphitheatres for gladiator games. This relationship may also apply to other locations in northern Portugal where gold was mined.