Study of the medieval mining tools of Castel-Minier (Pyrenees) in the European context between the 14th and 15th c.
Résumé
Castel-Minier is polymetallic production site settled in the Viscounty of Couserans in French Pyrenees and isolated in the valley four kilometers from Aulus-les-Bains village. Between the XIIIth and the XVth centuries, people produced silver, lead and copper with ore extracted on the site and in closed valleys. Besides, by necessity and opportunism, they produced iron using ore extracted from the Rancié iron mine.
Excavation and survey led since 2003. During excavation of mines and metallurgical workshops, we discovered a set of mining tools and lifting equipment, especially 44 chisels, from draft to abandoned item. Thanks to metrological and archaeometrological studies, we can understand how people from Middle Age produced, used and fixed tools and equipment.