GEOTOUR & IRSE 2012.pdf - Fakulta BERG - TUKE

GEOTOUR & IRSE 2012
Because of the fact that the historical monuments regarded as sites of historic and cultural
importance belong to non-renewable resources, their management must base on the long-term
prospect. It is also discernible that historical monuments and other places which form the
cultural heritage serve many people as sources of emotional and aesthetic experience and the
modern society may benefit from the protection and active use of the mentioned cultural
heritage.
Former mines constitute an integral part of archaeological heritage and testify the past mining
activities. The underground objects contain relics of mine working techniques used in the
past, pieces of equipment and housings (made of metal as well as wood). In the mine
surroundings are usually located the former mineral processing plants, smelting infrastructure
and social buildings.
The chain of underground mine workings normally develops according to geological structure
of the deposit (gathers, down- and upcasts, dens, seams), often transecting the encountered
geological formations. That enables the recognition of the occurring mineralization zones.
The exploited ore-bodies, with no useful components still contain vestigial amounts of
minerals. That helps in determining the basic structure and mineralization zones for the
former exploitation.
The local societies‟ activity linked to the excavation works, processing and smelting deeply
interferes in the landscape of mining regions and highly influences their economic
development. The essence of the matter can be observed while analysing the archival
documentations, the rich iconography, but also the changes in architecture, household
furnishing, in nomenclature and cultural traditions. Finally after suspending mineral
exploitation also nature claims its rights and the dormant mines often serve as shelters for
fauna and flora (vegetation, mouldings, insects, spiders, rodents). In general we can state that
old mines constitute a significant element of cultural heritage, often quite foreign for the
society and for environment defendants.
Mining sites as elements of cultural heritage, like the forgotten former mining pits, mine
waste dumps or ruined buildings and mining facilities form a tangible testimony of the long,
even a few hundred years old history of economic development of the region. They testify the
comprehensive knowledge and skills of miners from ancient times who, although vested with
simple means (compared to the contemporary ones), since the early medieval period were
able to excavate the riches of the earth. Large amount of relics of the former mining in Lower
Silesia, their undeniable historic and cognitive value, as well as lack of studies on their
present state of preservation, result in necessity of bringing into force the efforts on their
precise cataloguing and documentation.
Making an effort for protection of the former mining sites is necessary not only for their
historic value, but also for their proper preservation, in order to eliminate the threat posed in
some cases by them, especially towards people and animals. Still the activities adequate for
their preservation, monitoring and protection of the dormant mine workings accessible for
tourists in form of underground trails, like in Złoty Stok, Złotoryja, Kletno and Kowary in the
Owl Mountains and Jizera Mountains, are necessary for proper administration with mining
sites regarded as elements of cultural heritage and for disseminating knowledge about them.
Apart from the mentioned good examples of protecting the former Lower Silesian mining
heritage, problems occur by the complex and adequate preservation and making accessible the
two mining basins put out of action by the end of the last century and located in vast areas,
interesting in their geo-variety, i.e. the Old Copper Basin in the North Sudetes‟ Trough and
the Hard Coal Basin in the Middle Sudetes‟ Trough.
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE LOCAL DEVELOPMENT
Local development is a broad concept, which assumes that all changes, including
economical, are driven by ideas and social power. For purpose of this context, the most
121