There is a considerable literature on the use of coal as a fuel in Roman times; beyond that it gets much more problematic in Britain. I'm aware of one claim for coal usage on an iron age site, reported in 1995, but a casual internet trawl hasn't come up with anything that is terrible convincing for it being burnt as a fuel at earlier periods. A lot of websites seem to quote an article in Encyclopedia Britannica that talks about it being used in Bronze Age cremations, but I cannot find any independent verification of the claim. It may simply be that I haven't looked hard enough but I am rather sceptical about claims for its use in this country in prehistoric times as a fuel, as opposed to a decorative stone.
David
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of SimonB
Sent: 08 November 2011 15:19
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: stone age coal
Either the Nettlebridge Valley, or, some believe a small outcrop at Stratton
on the Fosse, both sites immediately adjacent the Fosseway (Stratton's site
is under 100 yards from the ditch on the eastern side of the roadway). If I
remember correctly there is some evidence in the Roman Baths at Bath, which
may or may not have been amended since I was last there. Coal ash was
certainly found in some of the offering plates and it appears that coal was
burnt as an offering or perhaps, I may surmise, to give a little light at
various alters.
Simon Brooks
-----Original Message-----
From: mining-history [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of W
Krouwel
Sent: 08 November 2011 09:03
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: stone age coal
The Romans used coal in a Temple at Bath, and it is believed (not sure of
the evidence) that this was extracted from the Nettlebridge valley, south of
Radstock ...
Bill Krouwel
>>> M J Shaw <[log in to unmask]> 11/5/2011 11:30 am >>>
I have been trying to establish the earliest example of the use or mining of
coal in the UK. Wikipedia contains an un-referenced statement on the matter
which is repeated on a number of websites and had by a public authority
'introduction to coal mining' site become
'It is documented that Stone Age man dug for coal for flint axes have been
found still embedded in the layers of coal, in the Derbyshire, Monmouth
region.'
I am not entirely convinced of the accuracy of this but have failed to find
anything better on-line, can anyone point me to a reliable source on this
matter.
All the best
Mike Shaw
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