The Duhamel Pithead Stocks are the largest in the Saarland. They belong to the Duhamelschacht which is part of the Bergwerk Saar. It commenced operations in 1815 and remained the last in service in the Saarland when mining came to an end in 2012.

The first day of my Saarland research.

Topographic approaches.
No plan.
On foot.

Next, an encounter with two former miners in the Kaffeeküche, as the mining canteens were traditionally called. They were eager and passionate in telling me about the mining industry – and that its demise was politically accelerated and provoked through obsolete mining methods. They struggled to hide their emotions.

They insist on my turning off my audio recorder. They insist on not being photographed. What they go on to tell me is too critical and too detailed. For one and a half hour. And always full of distrust. Distrust in me, why would I be interested in all that?

Afterwards, my ears are ringing. I had expected strong emotions right from the start, but not that I would not be able to record them.

What remains of this first day are ‘empty’ photographs and a glimpse of how difficult this research trip could become.