Mitterberg

Mitterberg Valley, province of Salzburg, high valley (1,200-1,500 m) on the south-east face of Hochkönig Mountain, west of Bischofshofen (municipality of Mühlbach am Hochkönig); most important copper ore deposit in Austria, evidence of copper ore mining from the middle and late Bronze Ages (16^th to 10^th centuries B.C.), surface traces (collapse shafts) and underground mining (finds exhibited in the Salzburg Museum Carolino Augusteum). Mining was started again in the 19^th century, discontinued in 1977. Starting point of modern research into mining in the period of Prehistory.