Abstract

LOPES, João Teixeira; MADEIRA, Rita Correia  and  COUTO, Sandra Mendes. What can sociology say about former mining areas? A study on mining heritage, collective local identities and oral stories. SOCIOLOGIA ON LINE [online]. 2022, n.30, pp.59-81.  Epub Feb 25, 2023. ISSN 1647-3337.  https://doi.org/10.30553/sociologiaonline.2022.30.3.

This article presents the results of a first investigation carried out under the “SHS - Soil health surrounding former mining areas: Characterization, risk analysis, and intervention” in the municipalities of Arouca and Castelo de Paiva. A qualitative methodology was adopted, seeking to capture oral memories and histories associated with mining developed in these areas, simultaneously analyzing the perception of risk.

The results show that mines are the basis of production and re-updating of collective identities and oral histories, through which people recognize themselves and project a local-based identity. On the other hand, although there are still some active risks, people tend to ignore them, performing tourism and leisure activities near the decommissioned mines. This happens because risks are generally associated with the past as a consequence of the mining work. The data also allows us to understand that while the population recognizes the importance of the mines, desiring their preservation and patrimonialization, they present some hardships in remembering the experienced tragedies and difficulties.

Keywords : mining; memories; collective identities; risk..

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