Cosmina-Maria Berindei, O abordare antropologică a reperelor mitologice privind mineritul aurifer la Roșia Montană și la Bucium Șasa
An Anthropological Approach of the Mythological References to the Gold Mining At Roşia Montană and Bucium Şasa
The present paper proposes an anthropological approach of the mining legends, myths, beliefs and superstitions fromtow villages of Apuseni Mountins, Roşia Montană şi Bucium Şasa, in order to emphasize the local guideline regarding thegold exploitation. The subject seemed important to me when, during some recent field research at Roşia Montană. In thisvillage situated in the North-Western part of Romania, in Transylvania, an extremely controversial mining project forexploitation of mineral resources aims to deplete this gold deposit in a period of 16-17 years. In these circumstances, Iidentified in the opponents’ speech certain expressions of immemorial superstitions about the inhabitants’ relationshipwith the area’s mineral resources, as well as beliefs about the way these resources could be used so that their lives andwealth would not be endangered. Our anthropological approach of the miners’ work culture emphasize that the minersaccess to the gold research is regulated by an ethical code of work, transmitted by word of mouth.
Keywords: Vâlva Băii, mythology, gold, mining, imaginary
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