Ruina Montium: l’oro di Roma nelle miniere di Las Médulas

Las Médulas, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in northwest Iberia, offers unprecedented evidence of the Roman Empire's large-scale landscape transformation through the 'ruina montium' technique. This method, described by Pliny the Elder, involved stripping mountainsides to extract gold, leaving behind a distinctive, terraced topography that persists today. The study highlights the site's unique geological and archaeological significance, showcasing how Roman mining practices reshaped the Bierzo region between Castile and Galicia. By analyzing the remnants of these ancient mines, researchers provide insights into Roman engineering prowess and environmental impact, contributing to our understanding of historical land-use dynamics.

Ghezzi y Alvarez, A. (2022). Ruina Montium: l’oro di Roma nelle miniere di Las Médulas. Firenze Architettura, 26(1), 162–173. https://doi.org/10.36253/fia-13944