Naganobori copper mine, Copper mine and Historic Site in Mine City, Japan
Naganobori copper mine is a historic mining site on the eastern edge of the Akiyoshi-dai limestone plateau in Mine, Japan. It consists of several underground tunnels and shafts that mark different phases of extraction work across many centuries.
Copper extraction at Naganobori dates to ancient times and supplied ore used for Japan's first minted coins in the 8th century. The site remained active as a key production center for more than two thousand years.
Wooden administrative tablets found at the site show how work underground was recorded and coordinated in writing. Such finds are rare and give a concrete sense of how the mining operation ran day to day.
The underground galleries are usually visited as part of a guided tour where mining methods and tools are explained along the way. Sturdy footwear and practical clothing are recommended, as the paths can be uneven and it is cooler underground.
Stalactites from the Ogiri No. 4 pit are studied by researchers to detect environmental changes caused by copper smelting over centuries. These geological records show in an unexpected way how ancient mining altered the surrounding landscape.
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