THE ROMAN GOLD ROUTE
THE ROMANS AND THE GOLD
With the coming of the Romans, the gold was then extracted from nature through mining, where tons of rock and earth were washed in the water of streams and rivers previously diverted for this purpose.
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It is quite common to find footpaths no more than 2% unbalanced in this region. They are commonly known as "antiguas". A clear example of this can be found between "El Chano la Muela" and Folgueras del Rio. It was through these "antiguas" that the flow of Naraval's river was diverted in order to dam up the water in the already mentioned "Chano", to be finally released over the "Vega en Medio". It was here where one of the most important rock and earth movements from the West was found. |
There is enough testimony an remais about the Roman gold-bearing
exploitation route that starts in Salave (Tapia) and go on along
the coast to later go further inland through Navia and Canero
valleys. 
It goes on all the way through Allande,
Salime,and Narcea region to reach Northern Portugal through Leon
and Zamora.
The Romans also brought the chestnut tree to our land; its wood was used for the huts and exploitations while its fruit was used to feed the slave labour force.
Nowadays, a series of gold-bearing rivers flow from Salave to Leitariegos in Western Asturias reaching Las Medulas which have been recently declared world heritage.
Gold panning tradition has always been maintained in Navelgas where, sometimes, small gold nuggets can still be found in the very centre of the village.Some years ago, this gold was sold by the natives to the dentists in Luarca.
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Gold panning has nowadays become a very appealing sport related to nature and adventure. There is a Gold Panners World Federation with basis in Tankavara (Finland). The team from Navelgas has so far represented Spain in Vigevano (Italy), Coloma (California), Kocaba (Czech Republic) and Zlotoryja (Poland) with successful results. But in fact, attendance to these championships is mainly used as a means of spreading and promoting our land, and the results can already be seen in the increasing number of foreign people who attend the championship held in Navelgas every year. |
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