Roman mining in Romania

A colleague in London drew my attention to a "disagreement" over the interpretation of a major Roman gold-mining complex at Roşia Montană in Romania. Professor Andrew Wilson, Professor David Mattingly and Mike Dawson were invited by the Romanian Minister of Culture to prepare a (confidential) report on "on the heritage value of the Roşia Montană gold mining district" (confidential report released on 17 October 2013 here). This led to the issuing of a response by David Jennings, Chief Executive of the York Archaeological Trust (see press release).

Wilson, Mattingly and Dawson have now responded, point by point, to Jennings. I will not repeat their discussion and conclusions here.

Readers of LM will no doubt be interested in this debate to protect an internationally significant archaeological landscape.