Mining in Tarnowskie Góry in Upper Silesia, Poland, has a long tradition of international significance. Lead ore and silver have been mined and smelted there since as early as the 12th century, as evidenced by historical records which also provide detailed information on subsequent mining activities. The mining of galena (PbS) in particular made the region an important industrial centre in Central Europe in the 16th century. Although the mining area was recognised by UNESCO in 2017 as a site of exceptional value, research into its cultural and geo-ecological legacy is still in its infancy. The area comprises thousands of mine shafts and spoil heaps that have not yet been systematically investigated using archaeological, sedimentological, geomorphological or pedological methods. Whilst mining from the 16th to the 18th century is well documented, the earlier phases of exploitation remain unclear; recent studies have begun to uncover this early chronology, yet there are still significant gaps in our understanding of the chronology and development of mining activities.

This German-Polish cooperation project is the first to undertake a comprehensive, multi-methodological investigation of the structures and characteristics of this unique cultural landscape. Using a geoarchaeological approach that combines several methods, the aim is to identify and classify the mining remains within the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tarnowskie Góry in order to reveal the complex Architecture of the landscape and reconstruct the key phases of its formation over time. This comprehensive approach promises new insights in the fields of geoarchaeology, history, geomorphology, soil science and Environmental Sciences, and could serve as a model project for other historical and contemporary mining areas.

Funding body: DFG, project number: 575242668

Funding period: 2026 to 2029

Funding amount: 343,093€

Principal Investigators: Prof. Dr T. Raab; Dr A. Bonhage