Description
Metal production in the Iberian Pyrite Belt during Prehistory and Antiquity
Book summary
This work offers a detailed analysis of mining and metallurgical production in the Iberian Pyrite Belt during Prehistory and Antiquity. The author examines the geological formation of these deposits, from their submarine volcanic origin to their emergence, to contextualize the techniques and historical importance of metal extraction in the southwest of the peninsula. An essential study for understanding the technological and economic evolution of one of the most significant mining regions in Europe.
What is it about?
The book focuses on the research of mining and metallurgical activity developed in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, a geological strip that extends from the province of Seville to the Portuguese Alentejo, with a special focus on the province of Huelva. The work describes the volcano-sedimentary origin of these minerals, explaining how submarine volcanic emissions deposited sulfides on the seabed during the late Devonian, to be subsequently covered by shales in the Carboniferous and emerge thanks to the Hercynian orogeny. Based on this geological foundation, the author analyzes how prehistoric and ancient societies took advantage of these resources, addressing the processes of extraction and metal production in the historical context of the region.
Main themes
- Geology and formation of the Iberian Pyrite Belt: volcano-sedimentary origin of the sulfide deposits.
- History of mining and metallurgy in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula during Prehistory and Antiquity.
- Extraction and metal processing technology in ancient times.
- Economic and strategic importance of the mining region of Huelva and its surroundings.
Who is it recommended for?
This book is aimed at historians, archaeologists, geologists, and mining engineers interested in the history of technology and mineral resource exploitation. It is also of great utility for university students of Ancient History, Prehistoric Archaeology, and Metallurgy, as well as for any specialized reader who wishes to delve into the mining heritage of the southwest of the peninsula.
What this book contributes
- An integrated vision of the geology and history of mining in one of the most important metalliferous regions in Europe.
- Understanding of the geological processes that gave rise to the deposits of the Iberian Pyrite Belt.
- Contextualization of metal production techniques from Prehistory to Antiquity.
- Specialized information on the evolution of mining activity in the southwest of the peninsula.
Technical specifications
- Author: PEREZ MACIAS, JUAN AURELIO
- Publisher: Universidad de Huelva
- Language: Spanish
- Subject: Ancient History, Prehistoric Archaeology, Metallurgy, Mining Engineering
- Collection: ELECTRONIC BOOK
- Binding: Paperback
- Publication date: January 1996
- Number of pages: 16
- Weight: 31 g
Editorial review
This is a technical and academic work that, despite its brevity, provides a precise synthesis regarding the geological formation and historical exploitation of the Iberian Pyrite Belt. Its interdisciplinary approach, which connects geology with archaeology and the history of technology, makes it a useful reference for researchers and students seeking a rigorous introduction to ancient metallurgy in the southwest of the peninsula.