Martin M. Miles' photos with the keyword: gold

Vila Real (population 17,500) is located on a plateau above the headland formed by the gorges of the rivers Corgo and Cabril. This is where the oldest part of the town is located, framed by the slopes of the Corgo gorge. The area has been inhabited since the Palaeolithic period. The rock sanctuary of Panóias bears witness to the presence of the Romans. However, during the migration period and the Muslim invasion, the area gradually became depopulated. At the end of the 11th century the colonisation of the region was encouraged. It was not until 1289 that a charter from King D. Dinis founded the royal town of Panóias, which became the current town. The modern Vila Velha Museum is the result of the archaeological campaigns that have been carried out in recent years but there is as well a wide collection (especially coins) This massive golden torques is dated to the Bronze Age and must have been a symbol of power, just as a crown later.

Las Médulas is a historic gold-mining site. that was the most important gold mine, as well as the largest open-pit gold mine in the entire Roman Empire. The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the "ruina montium" (wrecking of the mountains), a Roman mining technique described by Pliny the Elder. The technique employed was a type of hydraulic mining which involved undermining a mountain with large quantities of water. In order to bring the required quantities of water from the Sierra de la Cabrera, a canal system over 100 kilometres long was built. Parts of this system are still preserved today. Large-scale production did not begin until the second half of the 1st century AD. Pliny the Elder, who was a procurator in the region in 74 AD, described the technique of hydraulic mining: "What happens is far beyond the work of giants. The mountains are bored with corridors and galleries made by lamplight with a duration that is used to measure the shifts. For months, the miners cannot see the sunlight and many of them die inside the tunnels. This type of mine has been given the name of ruina montium. The cracks made in the entrails of the stone are so dangerous that it would be easier to find purpurine or pearls at the bottom of the sea than make scars in the rock. How dangerous we have made the Earth!" Opencast methods would be pursued by fire-setting, which involved building fires against the rock and quenching with water. The weakened rock could then be attacked mechanically and the debris swept away by waves of water. Pliny also stated that 20,000 Roman pounds (6,560 kg) of gold were extracted each year. The exploitation, involving 60,000 workers, brought 5,000,000 Roman pounds (1,640,000 kg) in 250 years.

Las Médulas is a historic gold-mining site. that was the most important gold mine, as well as the largest open-pit gold mine in the entire Roman Empire. The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the "ruina montium" (wrecking of the mountains), a Roman mining technique described by Pliny the Elder. The technique employed was a type of hydraulic mining which involved undermining a mountain with large quantities of water. In order to bring the required quantities of water from the Sierra de la Cabrera, a canal system over 100 kilometres long was built. Parts of this system are still preserved today. Large-scale production did not begin until the second half of the 1st century AD. Pliny the Elder, who was a procurator in the region in 74 AD, described the technique of hydraulic mining: "What happens is far beyond the work of giants. The mountains are bored with corridors and galleries made by lamplight with a duration that is used to measure the shifts. For months, the miners cannot see the sunlight and many of them die inside the tunnels. This type of mine has been given the name of ruina montium. The cracks made in the entrails of the stone are so dangerous that it would be easier to find purpurine or pearls at the bottom of the sea than make scars in the rock. How dangerous we have made the Earth!" Opencast methods would be pursued by fire-setting, which involved building fires against the rock and quenching with water. The weakened rock could then be attacked mechanically and the debris swept away by waves of water. Pliny also stated that 20,000 Roman pounds (6,560 kg) of gold were extracted each year. The exploitation, involving 60,000 workers, brought 5,000,000 Roman pounds (1,640,000 kg) in 250 years.

Las Médulas is a historic gold-mining site. that was the most important gold mine, as well as the largest open-pit gold mine in the entire Roman Empire. The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the "ruina montium" (wrecking of the mountains), a Roman mining technique described by Pliny the Elder. The technique employed was a type of hydraulic mining which involved undermining a mountain with large quantities of water. In order to bring the required quantities of water from the Sierra de la Cabrera, a canal system over 100 kilometres long was built. Parts of this system are still preserved today. Large-scale production did not begin until the second half of the 1st century AD. Pliny the Elder, who was a procurator in the region in 74 AD, described the technique of hydraulic mining: "What happens is far beyond the work of giants. The mountains are bored with corridors and galleries made by lamplight with a duration that is used to measure the shifts. For months, the miners cannot see the sunlight and many of them die inside the tunnels. This type of mine has been given the name of ruina montium. The cracks made in the entrails of the stone are so dangerous that it would be easier to find purpurine or pearls at the bottom of the sea than make scars in the rock. How dangerous we have made the Earth!" Opencast methods would be pursued by fire-setting, which involved building fires against the rock and quenching with water. The weakened rock could then be attacked mechanically and the debris swept away by waves of water. Pliny also stated that 20,000 Roman pounds (6,560 kg) of gold were extracted each year. The exploitation, involving 60,000 workers, brought 5,000,000 Roman pounds (1,640,000 kg) in 250 years.

Las Médulas is a historic gold-mining site. that was the most important gold mine, as well as the largest open-pit gold mine in the entire Roman Empire. The spectacular landscape of Las Médulas resulted from the "ruina montium" (wrecking of the mountains), a Roman mining technique described by Pliny the Elder. The technique employed was a type of hydraulic mining which involved undermining a mountain with large quantities of water. In order to bring the required quantities of water from the Sierra de la Cabrera, a canal system over 100 kilometres long was built. Parts of this system are still preserved today. Large-scale production did not begin until the second half of the 1st century AD. Pliny the Elder, who was a procurator in the region in 74 AD, described the technique of hydraulic mining: "What happens is far beyond the work of giants. The mountains are bored with corridors and galleries made by lamplight with a duration that is used to measure the shifts. For months, the miners cannot see the sunlight and many of them die inside the tunnels. This type of mine has been given the name of ruina montium. The cracks made in the entrails of the stone are so dangerous that it would be easier to find purpurine or pearls at the bottom of the sea than make scars in the rock. How dangerous we have made the Earth!" Opencast methods would be pursued by fire-setting, which involved building fires against the rock and quenching with water. The weakened rock could then be attacked mechanically and the debris swept away by waves of water. Pliny also stated that 20,000 Roman pounds (6,560 kg) of gold were extracted each year. The exploitation, involving 60,000 workers, brought 5,000,000 Roman pounds (1,640,000 kg) in 250 years.

The Roman tunnel of Boca do Monte was built in the 2nd century by order of Emperor Trajan to divert the course of the River Sil and extract the gold deposited in the meanders of the old course of the river. It is dug in slate and was 120 metres long until 1934, but a flood of the River Sil in that year caused a large part of the tunnel to collapse, giving it its current dimensions: 54 metres long, 19 metres wide and an average height of 17 metres.

Around Aulnay are a couple of small church, that are often underestimated, as "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" is such overwhelming, that it shadows everything around. But the craftsmen, that created "Saint-Pierre d'Aulnay" did not only work there, but they also found jobs in the area. Notre Dame in Nuaillé-sur-Boutonne, located only 7 kms west of Aulnay, is an example of this. The small church was erected in the 12th century, same time as Aulnay. Depicted on the outer archivolt are the Magi, who were adored by all pilgrims at that time. The Magi had followed the Star of Bethlehem on their long journey to Bethlehem, just like the pilgrims following the "chemin" to Santiago. From Aulnay it was a walk of less than two hours to see the Magi here. The scenes do not follow a chronological order. The Magi have reached Bethlehem and are adorating. They hold their gifts. The Star of Bethlehem is seen on the staff the Virgins holds. Matthew 2.09 - 2.11 "After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen when it rose went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh."