Findings Related to the History of Mining in Turkey

Abstract

The greatest innovation in the history of civilization is the use of minerals. Anatolia, owes its rich and long history, to the varied non-depleting mineral wealth. Nine thousand years ago copper was the first metal the habitants of Anatolia made use of. The oldest underground mining in Anatolia has been discovered around Tokat-Erbaa, Kozlu which belongs to the beginning of 5 thousand years B.C. In this study, for the first time in Turkey, using archaeometric methods, in two localities around Niğde tin mineralizations have been discovered. This is an important discovery for the mining history of Turkey.