A pot of silver at the end of the Iwami rainbow
April 13th 2008 Actually, there was more than a pot - way more.
Discovered in 1526, at the peak of its production around the early 17th century one third of the world's silver came from the Iwami mines. Many of the technologies and methods used here spread to other parts of Asia.
One of the mine shafts is open to the public, the many others are closed off with grates at the entrance. Getting into those wo
... read more