Towards an ecology of medieval mining towns: linking social and environmental changes

Medieval mining towns functioned as dynamic socio-ecological systems, where the interplay of mining, technology, and power structures created feedback loops that reshaped both society and the environment. A case study of Kutná Hora reveals how silver discovery spurred population growth, technological innovation, and capital accumulation, while also causing deforestation, pollution, and social stratification. This ecological framework offers a heuristic model for analyzing historical urban environments, bridging archaeology, history, and environmental science to shed light on early forms of extractive capitalism and long-term sustainability.

Cembrzyński, P. (2025). Towards an ecology of medieval mining towns: linking social and environmental changes. Archaeological Dialogues, 32(1), 45–62. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1380203825100238