The tenth book of the Theodosian Code provides a valuable insight into the
different aspects of mining exploitation during the Late Roman Empire. The
main issue was a shortage of mining labour. According to Constantine?s fiscal
policy, miners were permanently tied to their profession. They had the right
to sell their property, loca metallica, but under difficult conditions. The
forced mining labour was passed over from them to the potential buyers. Over
time, miners became tied to the place of their origin and their children had
to take on their fathers? professions. The continuous invasions of the
barbarian tribes as well as the suffered losses encouraged miners, in spite
of the prohibition, to escape their duties and leave their homes. The miners
from Gaul were desperately trying to escape to Sardinia in order to find
better working conditions. Those in the eastern part of the Empire tried to
acquire the status of colons inhabiting private landowners? estates. The flow
of escaping miners became a regular occurrence and the Roman emperors
introduced laws which penalised anyone found harbouring miners. The
unsatisfactory application of the imperial edicts resulted in a series of new
edicts aimed at addressing the same problem. The warning given to the local
judges by Emperor Gratian in his decree declared in 378. AD clearly shows
that the imperial edicts were not regularly applied in practice. The
following period would be marked with new invasions that would have serious
consequences on the mining exploitation and make the control of different
social categories and state officials even more difficult.
Domavian Public Bath in View of the Mining Legislation of the Roman Empire
