I am sure that Peter is correct when he says 'But if we look to the future
the real work will not be to maintain access but to record and protect those
features.'
For many of us underground recording means a good anotated line survey of
the accessible workings ( and you have only to look at some recent issues of
'Mining History' to see the very high standard of some of these surveys.)
But this type of recording, essential as it might be, has its roots in
tradtional mine and cave surveying. How many attempt an analysis or
presentation of the workings at an archaeological level? How many surveys
examine the relative chronology of the workings within a mine or look in
detail at gallery shapes, pick marks or waste deposits? Too many of us -
and I am certainly one - have been content to treat mines as caves:
explore, survey, photograph and move on. But we are not recording or
interpreting.
Now is this an area where NAMHO could help? Is there potential for training
sessions on archaeolocial recording and interpretation underground (and I
don't mean excavation)? Perhaps archaeological recording as a NAMHO
conference theme? Or, even better, a field weekend to introduce basic
techniques - I'm sure we could draw upon the skills of a number of
archaeological units, English Heritage or the Welsh and Scottish Royal
Commissions? Maybe even use those NAMHO funds we've been hearing about to
bring over some of our French counterparts.
Above ground mining remains are now accepted as a genuine and important
element of British archaeology (for instance the Monuments Protection
Programme and the survey work carried out by the Clwyd-Powys Archaeolgical
Trust). But few people outside the narrow confines of NAMHO and mining
history groups know of or realise the huge potential of the underground
remains. If we can develop a more rigorous recording system coupled with a
better presentation of of our findings then we stand a greater chance of
persuading others (local authority archaeologists and planners, government
agencies etc) of the importance of underground remains. And that will go a
long way to ensuring the long term preservation of those remains.
John Pickin
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