According to Herodotus, the Thasioi, that as the 463 e.g.. they had their hands on trade of gold and silver pangeo, win 200 with 300 talanta time, from which 80 from Thassos, 80 by Skapti Material and the rest by Pangeo. Also according to Herodotus, pisistratus, in the 6th century BC., Thanks to the wealth acquired by the mining of Paggaio during his exile, recaptured power in Athens and fastened his power. Similarly, again in Herodotus, the tyrant of Miletus Istiaios acquired much of his riches – had indeed cut and gold coins- from the gold mines of Myrkinoy (near the Struma), which had granted Darius, as sovereign of the area at the time.
Aristotle in his work "On sounds ' thaymasiwn reported that the area was sands ' chrysitis», and chrysoforo soil ("undigested land, the gold ekballoysa»), whence with washers («chrysoplysia») were making gold , with small on costs.
Philip II organized the mines pangeo in wondrous way. Making centre of mining activity the Krinides, they renamed to Philippi, He has enriched the region number of projects, mining and land reclamation, and discovered new mines, reaching, in Diodorus, the annual gold production in 1.000 talanta. Even improved the purity of gold at about two carats, which shows and corresponding improvements in methods and call-in halfway through metals from their minerals. The size of the wealth achieved by Philip from the Macedonian "chryseia" imprinted on "filippeioys", the Golden quintals that brought the head either of Apollo or of Hercules or Jupiter and on the other hand the scene of events. Adopted by the 352 until the 336 e.g.. and circulated to the 2nd century., not just in Macedonia, but in Rome (as Livy and Plautus), in Gaul. With this currency managed to compete with the "dareikoys" that were Golden quintals of cuts that brought initially show Royal Archer, which was later replaced by shows Leo and Taurus and enacted by Darius I. Also prevailed in the monetary war with silver Drachma of Athenian democracy.
The conquest of the Persian Empire from the m. Alexander brought in possession of immense riches in gold and other precious metals. Alexander the great in the Ekbatana 330 e.g.. and the 324 e.g.. found amythito treasure, as Arrian. When Justin the treasure he extended 180.000 talanta while Strabo the 190.000 talanta. These treasures were the mining of Pageos, and the rest of Greece, barely profitable or unprofitably, with the result that their exploitation decline seen. Interest therein peaked anew over Philip v (221 – 179 e.g.), for whom Livy writes that not only made sure to xanaleitoyrgisoyn the old mines, but opened and new to multiple locations. Their continued exploitation and on the last King of Macedon Perseus, to reach then into obscurity.
SKAPTI MATTER
According to what has been recorded by Herodotus and Thucydides, the most important factor in which had the wealth and development of Thassos during the era of antiquity, It was the island's mines and of the «antiperas» of Thrace. The last was known in antiquity as ' Skapti material "and were renowned for the amounts of gold from the mines of. Skapti Material connected with the historian Thucydides, to which attribute the ' mining ' acquisition of chryseiwn, in which the historian took refuge after his sentencing in Athens for the failed Strategia of the 422 e.g.. during the Peloponnesian War. He did not mention the place where experienced his exile, but subsequent literary sources mention his marriage to woman by Skapti Material and there say that co-authored the story of: "under platanw and diatribwn».
The archaeological survey has not yet been identified with absolute certainty the location of the famous Skaptis Material. Some argue that the mines are located in mountain Paggaio. In accordance with newer systemic investigations, Herodotus reports must connect with the area north and East of the city of Kavala where identified, a large number of occurrences and silvered gold-bearing ore. This view is in agreement with newer archeological investigations in accordance with which the Thassian Peraía limited in term Symbol and in the southern part of the Basin. The mountains of the North and East of the ancient Neapolis show ore deposits. Testimonials of intense mining activity are numerous underground and surface work, the huge piles of hardware and ekkamineysewn exorygmenoy, between the villages of Krinides, Libra- Krionérion, Almond, Palaia Kavala and Chalkero until Perni. on a surface of approximately 100 square. km. identified above 150 ore occurrences which exploited in antiquity, the Roman and Ottoman era and the 20th century. The holding in this area during antiquity it was oriented in extraction of rich gold and silver ore.
The "annuity" from the mines of Skaptis Material were, According to Herodotus, in 80 talanta (1 talent = 26,2 kg approx. equivalent of silver). This would correspond according to our calculations in about 180 pounds of gold today. These quantities are justified by the abundance and size of some of the mines of the region, the length of which reaches 350 measures and the size of body drilled Placer have dimensions up to 60Ch30Ch5 meters. How important mining centre was the site of this us denotes except Herodotus and Thucydides and Strabo who mentions features: "there are a lot of gold mining in Krinides where today is located the town of Philippi, near Paggaio mountain '. Diodorus Siculus also informs us that "following Philip Ii came to the city Krinides which increased in population and renamed in Philippi and gold mines were there some smart Roadsters leaked and created new sparingly so that revenue can have over a thousand talents".
According to Professor Michael Babelidita the minerals of the area the old Kavala is connected with the lower part of the series of marble and partly with the upper part of the minerals series. We distinguish three types of body Placer, which they exploited in antiquity. The first type are sidiromagganioycha minerals in carbonate rocks with gold contents up 26 ppm. The second type of forming sidiromagganioycha ores rich in lead, zinc and silver, also detected within carbonate rocks, with silver contents up 2500 ppm. The third type refers to quartz radiators pyrite and arsenopyrite-rich as well as in pyrite-chalcopyrite bodies epimikysmena, in gneiss and marble-contact in gneiss, with gold contents up 38 ppm.
The dating of the mining activity in proschwmatika deposits is very difficult, often impossible because traces of such deposits are destroyed and lost very easily. All that's left are piles of leaching residues. A great piece to have in addition to nature and human impacts, particularly during the last decades.
Unlike the proschwmatika deposits of traces of ancient mining activity remained until today in very good condition especially in underground workings. Based on geometrical features extraction and gating technique, as well as the archeological findings and the use of radiocarbon C14 and thermofwtaygias methods, distinguish in the mines so far ereynithenta If. Macedonia more operating phases. The greatest interest is that of the classical period.
The ancient lodges have mainly characteristic (Classic) trapezoidal form. Also frequent are the rectangular intersection as observed in the mines of Philippi, of Skaptis Material and Acropolis Thassos. The dimensions of the galleries have usually 80 cm width and height on average 90 cm. Similar incisions m’ These lodges were observed in Wells, the operation of which serve the promotion of the ore and the (atmospheric) working conditions in the mine (ventilation etc). For the construction of tunnels and wells used in classical antiquity mainly two ways to access, who is especially known from Lavrion. The vertical and horizontal. A third method which is used for access and for the exploitation of the ore was putting pyrras when the rock was very hard.
The gold-bearing ore mining method was done in antiquity mainly with the method of repayments. Unlike the modern method of exploitation of the ancients when accessing followed the body metalloforo. With the mining of the ore were often extensive irregular spaces, the so-called payoffs as well a gallery system labyrinthwdes. The tools used by the ancients for the extraction and access was mainly the chisel and hammer. In some cases observed and traces axinas. For soft material and were probably using backhoes.
Ordinary phenomenon was when the metalloforo layer was inclined, the holding shall be done at more than one level. In places from upper to lower levels or at the entrance to smileyotan stairway. To support the roof the ancients leave security pillars or walls made by stringing/wiring. The temple consisted of the rock that housed the ore. For construction of walls ypostylwseis used mostly sterile material through the mine.
As regards the concerns in lighting, This was done with torches but with household oil lamps made of clay or pencil. Digging pits for lights on the wall inside the rock or constructed posts from clay.
One important observation in ancient mining areas, is that out of the gold mines are usually very little and generally small heaps hardware exorygmenoy, Although mining in the mine areas are often major proportions. This is mainly due to the fact that the crushing and separation of hardware and exorygmenoy many times the enrichment of ore were inside the mine. The sterile material used in the construction of ypostylwseis concrete walls but also to meet and to close their premises thoroughly used most. In this way avoiding the difficult task of sterile material transportation and become parallel, We would say today, the restoration of the environment
Call-in method was with the crumbs of gold known leaching method with skafidi. Casting of heavy fraction followed where it was necessary. Often become spot copper in molten addition. For iron ore followed the ancient the same method after crushing and milling of the ore, While there are some signs of polymetallika minerals e.g. litharge that was probably using the method of kypellwsis.
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