event · evt_bi_great_orme_peak_production
Peak copper production at Great Orme
Mining, excavation and ore-output modelling indicate exceptionally intensive underground extraction during the early Middle Bronze Age portion of the Great Orme sequence.
What is the evidence?
observation
Mining, excavation and ore-output modelling indicate exceptionally intensive underground extraction during the early Middle Bronze Age portion of the Great Orme sequence.observed evidence
Mining, excavation and ore-output modelling indicate exceptionally intensive underground extraction during the early Middle Bronze Age portion of the Great Orme sequence.Great Orme was a major copper-production centre whose output could supply metal far beyond north Wales. Output estimates remain model-dependent and do not reveal political control or the complete distribution chain.
Inspect the sources →Review and provenance
Specialist reviewer: not recorded. Review date: not recorded.
Dataset workflow: proposed. This is separate from specialist review.
Confidence describes the stated assessment; it does not certify expert approval. How review works.
Chronology
Dating intervals may describe uncertainty or phases; their width alone does not establish event duration.
1600 BCE–1400 BCE
Precision: modelled phase range
Chronology model: regionally resolved positive bce
highPositive BCE integers are used; the larger value is earlier. The range preserves archaeological and calibration uncertainty. Great Orme was a major copper-production centre whose output could supply metal far beyond north Wales. Output estimates remain model-dependent and do not reveal political control or the complete distribution chain.
- supports · dates
Boom and bust in Bronze Age Britain: major copper production from the Great Orme mine and European trade, c. 1600–1400 BC — R. Alan Williams, Cécile Le Carlier de Veslud (2019)Integrates mine chronology, ore characterisation, metal analyses and production estimates to argue for a major Great Orme production peak and wide circulation.
Locator: Abstract; The Great Orme copper mine; Discussion; Conclusions; Figures 2 and 9 - supports · dates
Use-wear and technological analysis of animal-bone mining tools from the Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine — Olga Zagorodnia (2026)Examines manufacture and use of animal-bone mining tools from Great Orme.
Locator: Abstract; methods; use-wear results and discussion
Interpretation and caveats
Great Orme was a major copper-production centre whose output could supply metal far beyond north Wales. Output estimates remain model-dependent and do not reveal political control or the complete distribution chain.
Event context
Classification
Event type: mining intensification
Evidence layer: archaeological
Timeline role: regional core
People and places
Locations: Great Orme copper mine, Wales archaeological search region
Affected entities: Great Orme copper mine, Wales archaeological search region
Why it matters to the timeline
This is a core regional production event directly within the Welsh and wider British metal-system brief.
Alternative interpretations
- Production may have varied substantially within the broad phase and need not represent continuous full-time extraction. (moderate confidence)
Research notes
- Integrates mine chronology, ore characterisation, metal analyses and production estimates to argue for a major Great Orme production peak and wide circulation. Role: provides evidence and date. Locator: Abstract; The Great Orme copper mine; Discussion; Conclusions; Figures 2 and 9.
- Examines manufacture and use of animal-bone mining tools from Great Orme. Role: provides evidence and date. Locator: Abstract; methods; use-wear results and discussion.
Evidence and sources
- supports · provides evidence and date
Boom and bust in Bronze Age Britain: major copper production from the Great Orme mine and European trade, c. 1600–1400 BC — R. Alan Williams, Cécile Le Carlier de Veslud (2019)Integrates mine chronology, ore characterisation, metal analyses and production estimates to argue for a major Great Orme production peak and wide circulation.
Locator: Abstract; The Great Orme copper mine; Discussion; Conclusions; Figures 2 and 9 - supports · provides evidence and date
Use-wear and technological analysis of animal-bone mining tools from the Great Orme Bronze Age copper mine — Olga Zagorodnia (2026)Examines manufacture and use of animal-bone mining tools from Great Orme.
Locator: Abstract; methods; use-wear results and discussion
Referenced records
- Wales archaeological search region · entity
- Great Orme copper mine · entity