Oldest mine found

1992/03/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Giza zientziak

The oldest known mine to date has just been discovered in the Israeli city of Timna in the Negev desert. The area worked was 10 km2 and is occupied by holes, tunnels and underground rooms.

Although it is difficult to set a specific date, according to estimates, these mines began to be exploited 3,500 years ago. Copper was extracted there and 1,300 years ago it was abandoned.