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Not the total answer to mining history by any means - but a very good way to be turned on to it.... and seeing the work DOES add a dimension.... regards, Bill Krouwel ----- Original Message ----- From: Peter Claughton <[log in to unmask]> To: <[log in to unmask]> Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2000 9:50 AM Subject: Mine exploration > 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/ > > _____________________________________________ > > > %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%