The stat us of the coloni in the mining district of Vipasca in view of the provisions of the Lex metallis dicta

Abstract

R oman mining legislation from the time of the Republic is sparse despite the continuing de velopment of Roman law over the centuries. The absence of legal sources is a result of the way the Roman state collected revenues from mining. The fis cal regime implied that the collection of tax revenues from customs and mining (ager publicus) 3 was carried out by companies of publicans (societates publicanorum) 4 , to whom lessees of mining concessions paid taxes. 5 Hence, legal regulations related to the publicans covered the mining sector of the economy as well. This means that the Roman Republic was not directly involved in the mining process at all. The miners, pre dominantly slaves, were left to the mercy of the lessees 6 , and the latter to the mercy of the societates publicanorum. 7 The radical changes that were introduced only as late as the time of Vespasian 8 included the disap pearance of associations of publicans 9 , legislation for each aspect of mine exploitation, and a new status for the coloni, the former lessees of mining pits. Owing to the Vipasca laws, we are in a position to follow these changes and to gain an insight into the new mining the statUs oF the COLONI IN THE MINING DISTRICT OF VIPASCA in VieW oF the proVisions oF the LEX METALLIS DICTA 1