Rudna Glava, Ancient copper mining site near Majdanpek, Serbia
Rudna Glava is an ancient copper mining location with multiple shafts cut deep into the hillside to extract ore. The landscape still shows the marks of this early mining work, with visible pits and openings scattered across the terrain.
Excavations from 1968 to 1989 revealed mining operations that reached back to 5000 BC, making this one of Europe's oldest copper sources. The findings show that prehistoric people had already developed organized methods for extracting and handling ore.
The miners of the Vinča culture left behind stone tools, horn picks, and special pottery that show their skill and knowledge. These objects tell us how people organized their work and what they valued in their daily lives.
The site is open to visitors, but guided tours from the local museum provide the best way to understand the ancient mining methods. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven and some shafts are accessible to walk into.
The ancient miners used a clever heat and cooling method to break apart copper ore, applying thermal shock to the rocks. This technique reveals that people understood and applied physical principles thousands of years before formal science existed.
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