In response to Evan's comments.
There is a significant element, within mining history interests in Britain
and Ireland, whose primary interest is mine exploration. And I must admit my
interest in mining history developed along that route, a extension of caving
activity in my youth.
Why people do it may be difficult to understand for those outside these
islands. There is an element of danger involved, as with caving. In most
cases the danger no greater than that in caving as the majority of
recreational mine explorers confine themselves to workings in the
carboniferous limestone which are often an extension of natural cavities.
Exploration of workings outside the limestone is usually confined to those
with an interest in mining history and a desire to understand the detail of
the workings not available from documentary sources.
Occasionally some interesting discoveries can be due to mine exploration.
The one that springs to mind is the identification of Bronze Age workings at
the Great Orme, in north-west Wales. Correct me if I'm wrong, but that was
down to the persistence of mine explorers.
As to why people take part in caving / mine exploration for recreation has,
I am sure, much to do with living in an overpopulated area (compared with ,
for example, North America) and the desire for adventure and experiencing
new frontiers.
However, before I'm seen to be putting in too strong a defence of the 'rope
swingers', most mine exploration is recreational and you cannot begin to
understand the history of the mining industry without serious archival and
archaeological research. Mine exploration may provide some details and the
occasional leading discovery but it is not the answer to mining history.
Peter
______________________________________________
Peter Claughton, Blaenpant Morfil, Rosebush, Clynderwen,
Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
Tel. 01437 532578; Fax. 01437 532921; Mobile 07831 427599
University of Exeter - Department of History
School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list.
See http://www.mailbase.ac.uk/lists/mining-history/ for details.
Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/
_____________________________________________
%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%
|