For the Roman empire the control of its metal and marble resources was of high significance: marble was central to the representation of imperial wealth and power and the uninhibited access to metal vital for the economic and political survival of the empire. This book aims to provide a detailed survey of the organizational measures devised for the extraction of metals and marbles and is restricted to mines and quarries under imperial control. Following the description of geological and topographical constraints and organizational challenges, the book focuses on the legal definition of mining ... More

For the Roman empire the control of its metal and marble resources was of high significance: marble was central to the representation of imperial wealth and power and the uninhibited access to metal vital for the economic and political survival of the empire. This book aims to provide a detailed survey of the organizational measures devised for the extraction of metals and marbles and is restricted to mines and quarries under imperial control. Following the description of geological and topographical constraints and organizational challenges, the book focuses on the legal definition of mining and quarrying districts, the hierarchical structures and administrative responsibilities of the imperial officials (procuratores) and their staff, as well as the role of the Roman army, of private contractors and the workforce in these extractive operations. Finally, it addresses the position of mining and quarrying operations within the wider framework of the imperial administration and explores the role of the emperor vis-à-vis the mines and quarries within his empire. Although the emperor can play a vital part in allocating people and resources to quarries and mines, much of the organizational burden is placed on the men on the spot — a result of varying organizational constraints faced by procurators, Roman officers, or private contractors charged with running mining and quarrying operations