15. Ancient Greece Civilization: The Laurion Silver Mine - Rocks, Process, Methods, and More

The Laurion silver mines were located in ancient Greece, near the city of Athens. They were a significant source of silver during the Classical period and were worked by both slaves and free citizens. The mines were said to have been discovered in the 7th century BCE, and were a major contributor to the wealth of Athens during the 5th century BCE, the height of its power. The mines were worked until the 3rd century CE, and were said to have been exhausted by that time. The mining techniques used at Laurion were relatively simple and involved the use of open pits and underground tunnels.