Speech given by Mr Eugen David, President of Alburnus Maior at the occasion of the minister of Culture’s visit to Rosia Montana on 19 July 2009
Dear Minister Paleologu,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to address you today. I hope that prior to this meeting you have had the chance to visit the area and see some of Rosia Montana’s cultural treasures. Just like the many tourists who visit Rosia Montana you might have even had time to visit the mine museum and Roman mine galleries at Orlea. According to Rosia Montana Gold Corporation’s plans these Roman mine galleries are to be turned into the Orlea pit. Deep within Orlea archaeologists unearthed a few years back an extremely well preserved hydraulic installation dating from Roman times. At only one other place in the world - at Rio Tinto in Spain – have such wheels been found. This remarkable and rare finding at Rosia Montana indeed shows the incredible history and value that this place harbours, particularly given that to date the area has only partially been researched.
What is rather unique about Rosia Montana is that wherever one looks carefully, this place more than honours its past. In 2002 archaeologists accidentally unearthed in an already discharged area a circular mausoleum dating from the 2-3 century.
Just behind us we have Carnic - the queen of Rosia Montana. This mountain has been studied by French archaeologists working for Rosia Montana Gold Corporation (RMGC) and reporting to the ministry for Culture and the Cults (MCC). According to these archaeologists, the Roman and even pre-Roman mine galleries that they identified for the first time are of striking coherence and are in a remarkable state of conservation. In its judgement to annul an archaeological discharge certificate that was granted in 2004 over Carnic (ADC no. 4/2004) by MCC, the Brasov Court of Appeal – the court of first instance in the case - ascertained that: “The underground of that area still presents a significant archaeological interest, as it is one of the most important mining centers of the Roman civilization [...] Starting mining activities (standard activities including the use of explosives) would lead to the alteration of the protected archaeological vestiges in the area. The exploitation of a part of the Carnic Massif is incompatible with the obligation to protect the Roman galleries discovered in the area. Their integrity would be affected.”
Neither Carnic nor several of the other sites have been fully researched. I am confident that if care and time was invested then further research would bring to light other treasures that would confirm Alburnus Maior’s exceptional importance in the world.
I would like to stress that from what has already been found we have at Rosia Montana in situ archaeological features, which according to the law require pro-active protection and certainly not discharge and destruction. Any such move would be against Romania’s constitution and against the very purpose of the Ministry for Culture.
The archaeological research that has been done at Rosia Montana was not carried out by RMGC for benevolent reasons, but because it is required by law. Likewise the research should not in any sense lead to automatic discharge by the Ministry. On the contrary, when sites of archaeological importance are identified this means that these areas need to keep their protected status. Sites of unique archaeological importance have already been unearthed and thus confirm that Rosia Montana can not be discharged to make way for RMGC’s open cast cyanide goldmine.
I am fed up and bored of the blackmail exercised by RMGC that claims that without their money, poor Romania would never be able to honour its past and its history and that their mine is Rosia Montana’s only saviour.
I am also fed up and bored of fake solutions and mitigation tactics promoted by those in favour of the mining project who claim that protecting and rehabilitating one isolated gallery in the so-called ‘protected centre of Rosia Montana’, should allow for the destruction of Carnic, Orlea and the many kilometres of Roman and pre-Roman galleries sheltered in these mountains. To quote the Brasov ruling once more: “In claiming that in the Carnic Massif were discovered fewer vestiges than in other areas or that conservation works would be expensive, does not justify the issuance of an Archaeological Discharge Certificate.”
Romania is integrated into Europe and this means that funding and collaboration with universities, archaeological bodies and institutions is now easier. ICOMOS, UNESCO’s archaeological consultant has on several occasions expressed willingness to work together with the government to fully rehabilitate Rosia Montana’s archaeological and cultural patrimony. It is time for Romania to proactively work and put into value its history because this will also assure a viable income for the community. I fail to understand why culture and cultural tourism is something that we admire in Germany or other overseas countries. We have a unique history that would make other countries blush with envy, so why are we not using it to promote Romania, and to promote tourism in our country. Let us create viable sources of income instead of succumbing to pressure and creating an ecological timebomb.
At the UNECO World Heritage cultural landscape of Las Medulas in Spain – where the Roman mine galleries are not as detailed in the craftsmanship, and where no hydraulic wheel was found, and where no mausoleum has been found – a cultural park was created with the support of Spain’s Ministry for Culture. It is administered by a foundation, the mine galleries can be visited, and there are several walks within the archaeological park - very similar to our ‘Golden Way’ initiative here at Rosia Montana. According to the Las Medulas Foundation in 2008 a total of 26,000 visitors accessed the mine galleries, each paying 3 euros for their visit. All in all 86,000 people accessed the park and used the services offered via hotels, and restaurants. The foundation employs park keepers, archaeologists, accountants, guides and other types of staff.
Another, sustainable, way is possible. The only barriers to creating something truly remarkable with the patrimony with which we are blessed here at Rosia Montana are being put up by those who have a limited vision. Rather than moving forward positively they prefer the lazy option, so that they do not need to take pro-active steps and measures to protect this patrimony. It is easy to find these weak people: they are the only ones who have listened to RMGC’s misguided claims about poverty, money, and the unimportance of Rosia Montana’s archaeology. Why? Because they want to take the lazy option.
Until now Spain is the country renowned for mining archaeology – it's time to put Romania and Rosia Montana back on the map!
Thank you!
