Posture critiche. Note etnografiche su memoria, corpo e patrimonializzazione nella Sardegna post-mineraria

Francesco Bachis

2024-01-01

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Abstract

Based on years of ethnographic research on mining memories in Sulcis-Iglesiente (Sardinia, Italy), the chapter explores the social and economic changes that occurred after the shutdown of the mines, and the heritage-making processes associated with it. Following the closure of metalliferous mines, two main approaches were activated in response: the search for new industrial production solutions and the tourist-oriented valorization of the mining heritage. However, these strategies seem to have failed to compensate for the employment losses and have left the area in a state of persistent economic crisis. Through interviews with former miners, the chapter reflects on the memories and physical experiences of the workers, showing how, in their narratives, the heritage-making processes appear to have overlooked the human and social value of the mine, which is not only a place of production but also a context for social relationships, solidarity, and struggle. Many miners express emotional resistance toward the musealization of the mines, stating that without the presence of workers' bodies, the mine loses its meaning and becomes a "dead" place.