Uwarunkowania historyczne i prawno–organizacyjne górniczo–konserwatorskiego zabezpieczania zabytkowych wyrobisk Kopalni Bocheńskiej Historical, legal and organisational determinants of mining and conservation protection of historical pits in the Bochnia Salt Mine
The objective of this article is to present hitherto accomplishments in the area of
protection of the mine understood as a monument in a legal sense. They are presented
in reference to securing activities in the mine, effected throughout the history of its
functioning. These issues have not been presented in a synthetic manner so far. The
basic source material for the study was information accumulated in the course of
documentation work conducted by the employees of the Cracow Saltworks Museum
Wieliczka (in cooperation with engineers and technical employees from the Bochnia
Salt Mine) underground. The manner of presentation of issues discussed in the study
derives from an analogous article pertaining to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, presented in
volume XXIII of this yearbook.
The necessity of securing the mining pits in the Bochnia Salt Mine has been apparent
since the very beginning of its commercial operation. Various solutions were applied,
frequently quite untypical, adjusted to the specific geological structure of the deposit. The
basic material was wood, used to line the rising headings, as well as drifts in the weak
rock mass. Extensive chambers were propped up with support columns, usually filled with
mining spoil and contaminated salt types. The specific nature of the Bochnia Salt Mine was
that the support columns were constructed of thin alder and birch trunks. Support columns
made of thick pine, spruce or fir wood were rarely used. Some of the selected areas were
liquidated by being completely filled with waste rocks and post-production waste. Smaller of
them, left without any means of protection, were completely clamped after several centuries.
The original form of securing the chambers from the progressing destruction was
leaving them at the edge of a thin salt shell. Until the 18th century, transport routes were
designated in some of them via lining or support columns, which connected exploitation
areas located on various depths.
Conservation work in the legal sense began only after inclusion of the mine in the
list of monuments in 1981, even though some of the projects undertaken earlier had this
objective in mind, especially in the underground chapels.
Mining and conservation work is performed in a zone included under protection, i.e. on
levels from I to IX, in most valuable mining pits, selected on the basis of substantive criteria
with respect to the values of the mining pits. The selection was made by the employees of
the Cracow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka on the basis of materials accumulated during
the systematic scientific and technical stock-taking conducted in the 1970s and 1980s;
the list was approved by the Małopolska Province Monument Conservator in Kraków. It
includes 65 chambers, 112 drifts, 3 shafts and 4 fore-shafts. Furthermore, the most valuable
regions of the mine with respect to natural assets were encompassed by a detailed stocktaking
in 2005 and subjected to additional legal protection on the basis of the Nature
Conservation Act in the form of 27 documentation sites.
The conservation authorities have also formulated guidelines pertaining to the
procedure of preparing and performing work in the historical pits. The starting point is
preparation of a historical and conservation study and subsequently a technical design
relying on its recommendations. On this basis, permits are issued for the conduct of work
in protected shafts, chambers and drifts. Direct supervision over the performance of work
until 1999 was the obligation of the Province Monument Conservator in Tarnów, and
later the Małopolska Province Monument Conservator in Kraków and, since 2016, the
Cracow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka.
The basic source of financing for the conservation projects are funds deriving from
the state budget, which may be formally assigned for such a purpose since 2000. Earlier
(since 1991) they were fully assigned to liquidation work. As of 2000, funds assigned for
specific projects from the National Environmental Protection and Water Management
Fund constitute a significant supplement for the financing. Relatively small funds are
also generated by the tourist and spa activities pursued since 1995. The majority of
mining and conservation work was performed by the mining team of the Bochnia Salt
Mine. Tasks calling for specialist equipment and special qualifications of employees were
commissioned from external companies.
The basic part of the work was concentrated on levels from I to IV, in mining pits
that are the most valuable with respect to the presented historical values. The speed of
work gained momentum after the mine was classified as the monument of history (2000).
Initially, the work focused on securing pits that are assigned for being made available to
tourists on level IV, i.e. the August Chamber, and on level VI: the Sienkiewicz Chamber
and the Dobosz Inter-level. As a result of them, in 1995 the conditions in the mine allowed
for admission of organised groups to the mine for the first time in history. Later, work
was conducted in drifts and chambers assigned for thematically oriented exhibitions.
In the first period, the greatest mining and conservation projects included securing
the central part of the August Drift, along with adjoining corridors and the extensive
Ważyn Chamber. Its adjustment to perform recreational and sanatorium-type functions
required a lot of effort. In the second stage, work performed in the complex of mining
pits called Zejście Kalwaria, spreading from level I Danielowiec to level IV August, was of
great importance, as well as work at eleven sections of Regis Stairs connecting these levels.
It is also necessary to mention professional conservation of the 18th century Passionis
Chamber and opening the 17th century Krucyfiks Chamber for tourists. Performance of
mining and conservation work has acquired a special rank and should be an absolute
priority after inclusion of the Salt Mine in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.
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