ROMAN MINING IN HISPANIA SEGOBRIGA AND THE EXPLOITATION OF LAPIS SPECULARIS

In the vicinity of the ancient Roman city of Segobriga, evidence of significant mining activity during Roman times has been found, especially linked to the exploitation of lapis specularis, a material in high demand for construction purposes. It is a type of crystallized plaster that is naturally found in high concentrations. Due to its composition, it is easily exfoliable and large flakes can be obtained that can reach two meters in length.

together with other minerals such as lead 4 , copper 5 or mercury 6 , as well as gold. In addition to these two metals, the Romans also obtained from Hispania other minerals of different economic interest, such as cinnabar from the Sisapo area (Ciudad Real province), to obtain lead and mercury, used for the amalgamation of gold when it did not appear in pure natural state.
Copper was also highly valued, being used in metalwork, either in its pure state or mixed with other metals, to obtain the industrial alloy par excellence of the time, bronze.

BRIEF HISTORY OF SEGOBRIGA
The remains of Segobriga are found in the Segobriga Archaeological Park, within the municipality of Saelices, in the province of Cuenca (Spain).
Despite the city is completely in ruins, its excellent state of conservation compared to other sites of similar characteristics in the Iberian Peninsula, caused it to be classified as a National Monument on June 3, 1931 by the Spanish republican government of Niceto Alcalá Zamora.
The name Segobriga denotes clear Celtiberian origins, and probably in its beginnings it was a Celtiberian oppidum located in what would later be the northern part of the Roman city, whose location in the vicinity of the Cigüela river served to protect it.
Although no remains have been found that confirm the presence of the aforementioned oppidum, the finding of a fragment of Attic pottery, dating from the 5th century BC, seems to confirm the occupation of that place at that time.
Strabo (64 BC-AD 24) is the first author to provide the first references to Segobriga, by mentioning it briefly (Strabo, Geo. III, 4.13) in relation to the confrontation between The interior was structured in several rooms, from which galleries were dug in different directions. This distribution system was widely used during Antiquity in the so-called "indoor mining".
Oil lights were used to illuminate the interior of the mines, arranged at regular intervals in small holes in the walls, although sometimes torches were used. Chisels, hammers or pickaxes were used as tools, especially those made of metal. Stakes were used to open new galleries or rooms, also used to sculpt steps that, in some points, facilitated access to certain places, as well as to make holes in the walls that would be used to install pulleys, winches or anchors. Before extracting the lapis specularis, and after having been cut with saws to the desired size and shape, the blocks were driven through the galleries to the shafts, from where they were lifted by pulleys and winches arranged outside, although they could also be taken down the ramps with animals.
Once extracted, the lapis specularis blocks were roughened and selected according to their quality and size. Later they were again cut into square or rectangular pieces for better storage and transport, although possibly, and due to customer requirements, they were cut into other shapes.

CONCLUSION
Briefly, it could be stated that, in Segobriga, the exploitation and commercialization of the lapis specularis constituted an outstanding, if not essential, vehicle for its urban and economic development thanks to the great demand and appreciation for this element. In addition, the intense mining activity helped the development and emergence of other industries, which further enhanced the economic dynamism of the city.
That prosperity attracted people from all over the Empire, highlighting those from the Italian Peninsula, who managed to control, together with the autochthonous elites, the exploitation and commercialization of the lapis specularis. Their enrichment allowed them to be part of the Segobriga elite and access their magistrates and sociopolitical and economic control of the area.