It's a long and sad story, Peter. Since about 1997, the French Industry
Ministry has been methodically bloing up open mines when they have no known
concessionnaire, as they are then presumed to be the responsibility of the
State. At that time I was President of the French mining archaeological
association and after lots of lobbying we got the Culture Ministry to make a
firm stand, and insist that confirmed mining archaeologists make a diagnosis
of each site, and recommend one of three options ; destruction after full
recording (the most widespread, concerning scrapings and holes in the
ground) ; inscription on alist of "archaeological reserves" and closed off
by reversible means (iron doors, etc) ; or sites of national importance,
needing full recording, epxloration, dig, and valorisation. This last
concerned very very few sites, of which La Gardette - Le Pontet was one.
My colleague Bruno Ancel made the diagnostic in 2001, and the municipality
of Bourg d'Oisans (which would be legally responsible for the mine if it was
declared of cultural importance and not destroyed) was urged to start a
consulting process of interested parties (French geological survey, Culture
Ministry regional representatives, mine archaeology experts etc etc). One or
two meetings were held , but as in all cases where there is no clear
political lead given, nothing much happened ; Bruno's very full report
clearly showed the importance of the site, but the municipality much prefer
holding Mineral Fairs and encouraging so-called "geology" study tours which
include robbing minerals. The geologists did nothing but cry over spilt
milk, of the mineralogists, only one was brave enough to stand up and loudly
reclaim that the site was where the mineralogy community was freely robbing
the site of quartz crystals and that they wished to continue freely, and
that they would blow up any reversible closure. The only ones to take a
serious stance were the bat protection people from the Environment Ministry,
who as usual were much clearer in their demands for protection for the bats.
In any case valorisation of the site will be very difficult given the access
and security aspects.
So after three years of inactivity the Industry Ministry is forclosing on
the affair, and there is legally nothing that can be done, unless the
central services of the Culture Ministry take a hand, which they won't
because they are sick and tired of these vexatious mining archaeologists who
worry at their heels all the time...
Ian Cowburn
Le 15/03/05 10:27, « Peter Claughton » <[log in to unmask]> a
écrit :
> I have been informed of the pending destruction of an important mining /
> mineralogical site , the mines of La Gardette and du Pontet, near Bourg
> d’Oisans in the Alpine area north-east of Grenoble. More information can be
> found at http://www.lagardette.com and a quick translation of the main
> points is included below.
>
> "Mines of La Gardette et du Pontet, commune de Bourg d’Oisans et de Villard
> Notre-Dame – France are threatened of total and irreversible destruction at
> the end of March. At the request of the Direction régionale de l’industrie
> (DRIRE), they must be demolished using explosive. It is a disaster
> patrimonial, cultural, archaeological and mineralogical which is
> beingcarried out with indifference, in spite of the dissension of the
> Ministère de la Culture.. Its universally famous quartz - Macle de la
> Gardette - contributes to the richness of the most famous museums. They are
> the jewel of l'Oisans, already famous for its mineralogy and its geology
> of exception."
>
> These were important gold mines from the early modern period, famous for
> their rich mineralogical heritage and, although approved for valorisation
> as an important archaeological / mineralogical site with tourist potential,
> are to be destroyed (blown in using explosives) by the end of March. We
> hear a lot about the archaeological status of French mining sites but what,
> if any, status can be applied to important mineralogical sites ? In this
> case the importance of the site would appear to count for very little. List
> members might like to visit the web site above and comment.
>
> Peter
>
> ______________________________________________
>
> Dr Peter Claughton,
> Blaenpant Morfil, nr. Rosebush, Clynderwen, Pembrokeshire, Wales SA66 7RE.
>
> Tel. +44 (0)1437 532578; Fax. +44 (0)1437 532921; Mobile +44 (0)7831 427599
>
> Hon. University Fellow
> School of Historical, Political and Sociological Studies (Centre for South
> Western Historical Studies)
> University of Exeter
> E-mail: [log in to unmask]
>
> Co-owner - mining-history e-mail discussion list.
> See http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/files/mining-history/ for details.
>
> Mining History Pages - http://www.exeter.ac.uk/~pfclaugh/mhinf/
>
> _____________________________________________
>
|