Silver and lead in the area of today’s Bytom and Tarnowskie Góry were extracted as early as in the IX century, according to research conducted by an interdisciplinary team of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology and the University of Silesia.
The first results of the work of the Laboratory for Testing and Analysis of Working Conditions of Industrial Occupations established two years ago were presented in the Historic Silver Mine in Tarnowskie Góry.
As the representatives of the Association of Tarnowskie Góry Land Lovers, who manage the mine, argue, the results of the research conducted so far change the state of knowledge about the history of industry in this part of Silesia.
“Pope Innocent II wrote in a papal bull that life in today’s Tarnowskie Góry area had been going on since the XII century. Meanwhile, it turns out that there were no cities yet, but mining activities were underway. This was confirmed by the joint efforts of scientists from the Silesian University of Technology and the University of Silesia,” indicated the representatives of the Association.
“Research on the working conditions of industrial professions has shown that silver and lead were extracted in the area of today’s Bytom and Tarnowskie Góry as early as in IX century. The shafts on Srebrna Góra (between Tarnowskie Góry and Bytom) were also counted, there are as many as 14,000 of them,” they added.