Břevenec, Olomouc distr., Olomouc Region

This field with medieval spoil heaps and traces of precious and non-ferrous metal mining is situated in an area of ore deposits. We may assume that a total of 1.5 tons of gold and 22.2 tons of silver were gained from the Jesenice deposits in the course of the High Middle Ages. Part of this area are also settlements of gold miners from the 1st half of the 13th century (for example, in the suburbs of Rýmařov). Traces of gold washing have come to light on both banks of the Oskava River on a length of about 1,100 m; the site was about 500 m broad. Feeding canals are also preserved, which enabled to change from surface mining to greater depths and to use gold sluices. By the end of the 13th century, the ‘gold feaver’ in the area of Jeseník ceased, while mining of other non-ferrous metals and iron ore continued.

References: Novák 1985; Šestáková 2012; Šlézar 2013a; Zapletal 2013; Gába 2014, 19–23.

Navigation point: N 49°52‘17.84“, E 17°08‘05.08“.