Fieldwork took place from February 9 to 16 in the region surrounding Cabeza del Buey in the province of Badajoz. The project was carried out in partnership with the Universidad de Sevilla and specialists from the Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Badajoz.

Researchers documented six distinct mining locations. These ranged from small extraction areas to larger, more complex sites. One location stood out due to the discovery of about 80 grooved stone axes, which were used to break down and process ore.

Copper, Lead, and Silver Point to Ancient Trade

The mines contain copper, lead, and silver, all of which played a key role in Bronze Age economies. These materials were widely traded across long distances, forming the backbone of early European exchange networks.

This investigation builds on earlier work connected to the Maritime Encounters program and other archaeological projects led by Professor Johan Ling at the University of Gothenburg. Previous studies using lead isotope and chemical analysis of Scandinavian Bronze Age artifacts have suggested that much of their metal originated in southwestern Spain.

Evidence of a Connected Bronze Age Europe

"The newly discovered Bronze Age mines identified over the past ten years -- both by other research teams and through the approximately 20 new mines documented by our research group between 2024 and 2026 -- are transforming our understanding of how interconnected Europe was already 3,000 years ago. These discoveries demonstrate that metal extraction in southwestern Europe was far more extensive and organized than previously recognized, and they provide a concrete archaeological context for the chemical and isotopic analyses that point to long-distance connections during the Bronze Age," says Johan Ling, Professor of Archaeology.

Facts/ The Extremadura Survey

• Location: Area around Cabeza del Buey, Province of Badajoz, Spain
• Dates: February 9-16
• Project: Maritime Encounters
• Partners: Universidad de Sevilla and Museo Arqueológico Provincial de Badajoz
• Result: Six previously unregistered Bronze Age mines
• Notable find: Approximately 80 grooved stone axes used for ore processing
• Metals: Copper, lead, and silver