Medieval Mining Centre of Buchberg in the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands. Metal Production in the Kingdom of Bohemia (13th–14th Centuries)

The study presents the results of a wide range of research approaches and surveys of the defunct mining centre at Buchberg in the region of Havlíčkův Brod, which was involved in silver production in the 13th and 14th centuries. Burchberg is exceptional in its size and well-advanced community infrastructure. Its significance is also reflected in written sources. Surveys and trial diggings focused on the residential area, and especially on the adjoining metallurgical facilities providing unique spatial information, as well as a wealth of valuable data obtained by analysing archaeometallurgical materials, representing the links in the operational chain, staring with the raw ore extraction and ending with the final production of the desired metals. The current deforestation of mining field relics enabled their three-dimensional survey, and, thus, providing a hitherto unknown view of the spatial structure of historical mining activities.