Why Did the Romans Abandon These Mines?

What did it really cost to fuel the Roman Empire? From the mercury mines of Sisapo to the massive gold extraction at Las Médulas and the silver mines of Rio Tinto, this documentary explores 10 of the most important Roman mining sites and the people who worked them. Ancient engineering, forced labor, environmental destruction, and the enormous demand for gold, silver, copper, and iron helped power Rome for centuries. But the mines also reveal another side of the empire: poisoned workers, exhausted resources, abandoned industries, and landscapes permanently transformed by Roman extraction. The ruins, tunnels, slag heaps, and polluted landscapes still remain today, offering a glimpse into how Rome built its wealth and what that wealth left behind. Subscribe for more forgotten history, ancient mysteries, archaeology, and documentary style stories.