Prior to the introduction of explosives in Europe, there were two primary methods of mining: firesetting and the use of tools, with the hammer and chisel being the most common. The use of wood, and therefore fire, can be traced back to protohistoric times. The choice between the two methods depended on the hardness of the rock being mined, as well as the source of energy used – either human energy or the thermal energy of wood. The issue of access to fuel is significant. The approach is based on experimental archaeology and involves tests carried out on various medieval mines, which permits the measures of energy. The thermal energy it correlated with to the mass of wood burnt. Human energy is measured using an accelerometer on the experimenter’s wrist. This method helps to understand the technical and economical choices made in different geological, chronological and social environments.