Mining and metallurgical activity in the medieval Serbia

Abstract

The mining and metallurgical activity has a centuries-old tradition in Serbia. Copper, iron and gold are the basic metals in the ore of Eastern Serbia. Lead, zinc, iron and silver ore are present in central Serbia, while antimony and lead ore are predominant at the location of western Serbia. The strength of Nemanjic's Serbia was mostly based on the development of this activity. With the arrival of the Turks, the mining and metallurgical activity weakened, and at the beginning of the 18th century it completely become extincted. Almost all current mines of polymetallic ores in Serbia appeared on the locations of medieval mines.

Keywords

• mining
• metallurgy
• foundry
• medieval serbia
• gold
• silver
• copper
• iron
• lead
• zinc