First archeological exploration of the Roman mines of Sierra Morena: El Centenillo (Baños de la Encina, Jaén)

At the mining area of El Centenillo (Baños de la Encina, Jaén) during several archaeological superficial studies and surveys a great amount of ancient fossilized miners works remains have been found inside the “socavones” (mines entrances) and “rafas”. Nevertheless, the insider part of the mine has not been studied yet. Therefore, in September 2010 we decided to carry out the first archaeological exploration. The main goal of this exploration was to document and identify those ancient subterranean works in order to identify them from the most modern and contemporary that could have been still intact. This first campaign was done at the same time as the archaeological excavation of the Bronze Age site of Peñalosa. Such work has been focussed in the exploration and the examination of the ancient mining works at the double vein of Mirador-Pelaguindas as well as in the South and its respective Northern veins and the results of it can be found in this paper.