Europe: The Birthplace of Mining?

Archaeological evidence suggests Europe, not the Middle East, was the birthplace of organized mining, with flint and metal extraction beginning as early as 7000 BC. The transition to farming during the Neolithic period intensified mining activities, particularly for flint used in tools, at sites like Spiennes (Belgium) and Grimes Graves (England). Europe also pioneered copper mining, with thousands of objects dating back to the Chalcolithic period (6th–3rd millennia BC), facilitating trade networks that spanned the continent. The discovery of copper and tin sources enabled bronze production by 2000 BC, further shaping European societies during the Bronze Age (5500–500 BC).

O’Brien, W. (2014). Europe: The Birthplace of Mining? Prehistoric Copper Mining in Europe. https://doi.org/10.1093/oso/9780199605651.003.0006