The peninsula of Lavreotike, the southernmost part of Attica, is a semi mountainous area rich in argentiferous ores, which were systematically exploited during the antiquity. Thanks to the silver mines of Lavreotike the city – state of Athens evolved to a leading power during the Classical period (5th and 4th cent. BC). Dense evidence of mining (wells, galleries) and metallurgical procedures (workshops for cleansing and smelting of the ores) is found in the area.