The settlement grew up around the north-western edge of prehistoric
lead and
silver mines, which were exploited by the
Romans. Mendip lead ore had up to 0.4% silver content, which the Romans used to pay the army. Extraction is thought to have begun as early as AD 49 (although the evidence of dateable lead ingots found in the neighbourhood has recently been questioned.) At first the lead and silver industries were tightly controlled by the
Roman military (in the south-west, by the
Second Legion) and there was a small
'fortlet' adjoining the mines during the 1st century, which may, however, have been little more than a fortified compound for storing lead
pigs. After a short time, the extraction of these metals was contracted out to civilian companies, probably because of low silver content. Smelting was undertaken on site where industrial workshops have been excavated, and the metal exported along a minor road to the
Fosse Way, and probably through a small inland port at nearby
Cheddar. ==Amphitheatre==