A Recording Experience

Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture 9 (2015) 1370-1389 doi: 10.17265/1934-7359/2015.11.012 D DAVID PUBLISHING A Recording Experience Frode Sæland Norwegian Mining Museum, Kongsberg 3602, Norway Abstract: The paper deals with the experience of documenting large industrial sites. The preservation of large industrial sites in situ is rarely an option. Alternatively, an industrial site can be subjected to documentation, in order to achieve some forms of preservation by record. Preferably, industrial sites are best understood while in operation. Practical and methodological considerations in choosing adequate approaches to process recording, as well as the experience of documenting both a living industrial heritage in the form of a mining site in operation and an abandoned mining site in decay are discussed with reference to a pragmatic approach to documentation of industrial sites. Key words: Process recording, documentation, industrial heritage, preservation. 1. Introduction historical perspective. In fact, the documentation of the industrial heritage in Norway was and still is in its very In 2002, the Norwegian Mining Museum took an beginning. Regarding this as a pioneer project, the initiative to carry out a comprehensive recording initiative reflected a learning desire as well. To acquire project on a mining site in operation. We were inspired and improve our skills, the practice of recording and by two projects: (1) the work done by Brian Malaws of field techniques was an important motivating factor. the RCAHM (Royal Commission on the Ancient and The object chosen for our project was the mining site of Historical Monuments of Wales), recording the Taff the company Titania AS. Situated in the southwestern Merthyr Colliery in Wales; (2) the work done by the part of Norway, this mine had been worked since 1960. NARE (Norwegian Antarctic Research Expedition) Titania AS is a modern mining company operating an 1989/90 in recording abandoned whaling stations on open-pit mine on the Tellenes ilmenite ore deposit, one South Georgia. With a small staff with little or no of the largest in the world. The mining company experience from fieldwork, this was a challenge. The produces black ilmenite concentrate for the European museum had previously carried out only minor pigment industry. The ore dressing taking place at industrial archaeology projects on mining sites from Tellenes is a complex and demanding process, the 16th century. Documenting mining operations involving several recovery technologies. We wanted to posed a problem. However, we were committed to a do a process recording of this large and complex task reiterated in government policy documents: mining site focusing on the production process, Museums should give higher priority to the considering this the essential element in industrial life. documentation of the present and near past, especially Although an industrial production process involves the industrial development of the 20th century. As a several aspects, the form of process, recording we national museum for mining, we had a special wanted to carry out, was defined to the physical commitment in this respect, as no mining sites had production line in the open-pit mine and the ore been subjected to documentation from a cultural and dressing plants [1]. With limited resources, the chosen method was a Corresponding author: Frode Sæland, Ph.D. candidate, curator, research fields: industrial history of Norway, industrial so-called pragmatic approach to the documentation of heritage and World War II history. E-mail: industrial sites. This approach has been developed in [email protected]. A Recording Experience 1371 connection with the NARE project, and it offers a more idea of documentation of the industrial heritage, inexpensive, realistic and simplified sets of methods instead of physical preservation of buildings and than the more ambitious and comprehensive structures, had got political acceptance on ministerial approaches advocated by the RCHME (Royal level. The white paper Living with Cultural Heritage Commission on the Historical Monuments of England) establishes a fundamental precondition in this regard: and HABS/HAER (Historical American Buildings “The physical preservation of old production Survey/Historic American Engineering Record) [2]. equipment from industry together with building These approaches are more suited for traditional structures is only possible on a limited scope. In antiquarian methods for recording of buildings and connection with replacement or closure of industrial architectural history buildings survey than industrial enterprises, an alternative to protection will be to sites in operation. The method is a combination of record objects being removed” [4]. The documentation mutually explicable recording techniques, such as site of industrial heritage sites should thus form a basis for plan and measured drawings of plans and sections, information and knowledge regarding the evaluation photography including serial photography, inventory and the management of the heritage, and it will in turn and interviews on specific themes with employees. To provide important source material for scientific what extent was this methodological approach suitable research and later industrial archaeology projects. In for a process recording of living industrial heritage? Norway, with very limited resources and public By direct observation in the field, the aim is to funding of the cultural heritage, physical preservation collect broad and systematic information and to of large objects or industrial sites is simply not an issue. provide an interpretation of the particular site or the The only viable alternative is to carry out a production process involved by creating an archive cultural-historical documentation project of the consisting of written, illustrative and visual material for structure or the site in question, in order to achieve a storage and future use. “The purpose of data collection degree of “preservation by record”. is not to test scientific hypotheses but to illuminate 2. How to Do Process Recording? broad historical issues” [3]. A documentation recording is usually part of a research agenda. However, The recording of an industrial site demands our project was not. It was part of a priority by the resources, personnel, skills, money and equipment. initiating organization to create cultural and historical Limiting factors for us were especially personnel and relevant material for research and presentation in funding. As a small institution with limited funds for museums and cultural heritage work. This perspective national surveys, we had to pool personnel resources was an ideal for many museum employees at the start from our own museum and a regional museum, four to of the new century. We should leave the dead five museum curators, for a couple of weeks in the field collections and dreary registers facing the real world, during the summer season. A grant of 100,000 NOK documenting the social, cultural and industrial changes, (Norwegian Krone) from the Norwegian Arts addressing our own times and make documentation of Council, under the post “extraordinary tasks in the living cultural heritage. For museum-political museums”, provided a basic funding. As an institution reasons, as well as for reason of establishing closer with limited time and resources, we had to choose a contact with the industry we serve, the ambition of more effective and flexible approach for the recording documenting one of the remaining mining companies of an industrial site. The alternative at hand was a in Norway in operation was an obvious one. so-called pragmatic approach to the documentation of Also within the field of cultural preservation, the industrial sites. Gustav Rossnes at the Directorate for 1372 A Recording Experience Cultural Heritage developed this approach together development of the site based on an examination of the with Dag Nævestad at the Norwegian Maritime site together with readily available sources, as well as a Museum for the recording of abandoned whaling complete photographic record. The written report stations on South Georgia, within the NARE should be a comprehensive description and 1989/90 [5]. This approach represents a more realistic, interpretation of the site, supported by systematic simplified and perhaps adequate set of methods and photographic record, a systematic set of drawings, techniques. The pragmatic approach to documentation plans, elevations and site plan, geolocation and map. is inspired by social anthropology and social history. Level 4 involves an integrated and multidisciplinary The interest centers on how the production process is recording of buildings and structures of special organized within structural settings and aspects of importance and draws on the full range of sources of social life and work processes within this context [6]. information. The report should include a discussion of Thus, the focus is on the functional relations of sites, the object’s significance in terms of architectural or buildings and rooms, regarding physical context, economic history, with regard to projects for physical layout and their social use in order to trace the different reconstruction or restoration. stages of a production process. As each industrial site is unique, demanding We also had to consider the aim and thus the level of individualized attention, these procedures were recording. The aim was easy to define but difficult to regarded as guidelines and general “modus

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