Sculpture on the church of the miners in Valencia, Mexico

Two sculpted figures stand in an alcove surrounded by floral patterns carved in stone.This church was dedicated to the silver miners who worked and died in the area during the colonial period. Much of Mexico's wealth emerged in the form of silver. Tens of thousands of miners, both Indian and Spanish, toiled in the mines. Hundreds made their fortunes, while thousands lost their lives. Churches like this one were built from donations from the miners themselves to remember fallen comrades.