we are back and we're talking Medieval mining. we often discuss the elaborate jewels and metals used for ostentatious royal displays and the iron weapons shaped by blacksmiths for war but how does all that metal get out of the ground? who's doing the work to dig it out? what mining technology and methods were present during the Middle Ages? what does the Roman Empire have to do with all this? we will discuss all that plus look at some of the big centers of Medieval mining across Europe, North Africa, and parts of Asia.


below are links to recent archaeological finds that Eleanor mentioned in the answer to this week's question:

shipwreck: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-64151535

unusually shiny sword: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/bronze-age-sword-germany-180982399/

warrior women: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/tomb-containing-three-generations-amazon-warrior-women-unearthed-russia-180973877/