Four former British mining settlements on Spitsbergen

• Main Author: Kruse, Frigga
• Other Authors: Claughton, P., Mills, C.
• Format: Other Non-Article Part of Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Cornwall and West Devon Mining Landscape World Heritage Site 2011
• Subjects: minng history; industrial archaeology; Spitsbergen; Arctic; Norway; International Polar Year
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11370/f164e933-6bb4-499a-bd5f-6cbb2bfbbeef; https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/four-former-british-mining-settlements-on-spitsbergen(f164e933-6bb4-499a-bd5f-6cbb2bfbbeef).html

The LASHIPA project participated in the recent International Polar Year to evaluate the large-scale historical exploitation of polar areas. This sub-project looks at the role of British actors in the economic and geopolitical development of the European High Arctic during the early twentieth century. Spitsbergen being the chosen case study, four British mining companies are introduced and the results of archaeological surveys at their respective mining settlements are interpreted. The discussion emphasizes the effects of settlement location, infrastructure, technological adaptations, and symbolism on the economic and geopolictical accomplishments of these early Arctic mining endeavours. Three companies aimed to strengthen the case for British occupation of the no man's land, which is nonetheless administered by Norway today. British mining remains form an important but fragile part of Arctic industrial heritage.