By
Lourdes López-Merino (contents author)
Antonio Martínez Cortizas (contents author)
Summary
The Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula was one of the most important mining hotspots during Roman times, with the stimation that Iberian mines generated 60% of the European lead production (Nriagu, 1983). Mining activity mainly focused on gold but also on other metals. Fingerprints of this activity were extensively recorded on environmental archives such as peatlands and lake sediments. Contrary to this huge evidence, medieval mining signals are more half-hearted, both in the archaeological and palaeoenvironmental records. Although palaeopollution research on peat records in NW Iberia has shown some metal pollution increases during the Middle Ages, they tend to be smaller than Roman levelsboth in intensity and duration. An exception to this trend was found in ‘Cruz do Bocelo’ mire. Besides a clear metal pollution signal recorded during Roman times there was also a signal of similar intensity but of shorter duration peaking at in the transition between 6th and 7th centuries and later between between 10-11th centuries. Preliminary analysis of Pb isotope data indicates that this medieval peak is compatible with the local exploitation of metal resources. In this paper we present the results of ‘Cruz do Bocelo’ palaeopollution study which combines elemental composition by XRF and Pb isotope data. Selected pollen indicators will be also shown in order to evaluate the impact of this possible mining evidence on vegetation. Studies of palaeo-archives located close to the mining and metallurgy centres are badly needed to decipher the local narratives of these activities – in times of social change and reorganization in particular.
Keywords
Romans. Peatlands. Pb isotopes. Geochemistry. Palynology. Palaeoenvironment. Palaeopollution.