Decay and Reactivation of Gold Mining in the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula: Procuratores Metallorum and Roman Administration

Abstract

The presence of procuratores metallorum acting as imperial officers within the background of gold mining activity on the Northwest of the Iberian Peninsula raises a number of questions.The first has to do with their activity, apparently a full-time one, during the second half of the 2nd century, which in itself may be taken as a response to the need of reactivating mining works during those decades.The second has to be connected with the link they might have had with theprocurators Asturiae et Callaeciae and, in turn, with the governors of the province Citerior Tarraconensis.The third and final one has to do with the role displayed by the beneficiarii, acting as their subalterns in charge of the control of the different mining districts.

Keywords

• explotaciones mineras
• noroeste de la península ibérica
• procuratores metallorum
• beneficiarii
• segunda mitad del siglo ii
• administración romana