5. Sloping channel to the wheel chamber
Between the wheel chamber and the dam a section of the former sloping channel which originally had a length of about 200 m, is still visible. This section can be seen in the forest and has a length of 50 m. It has the form of a small channel and is approximately 1.5 m wide. The dam, sloping channel and wheel chamber are a unique entity being in good condition and demonstrating parts of the medieval mining technology. It is hard to imagine that only individual and family-run businesses were responsible for the construction of such a system. However, it is more likely that there was a merger of several mining companies, a so-called union, in that mining area.
Mineworkers, jelly bag caps and dwarfs
Certainly, some of you have already noticed that on medieval pictures the mineworkers are wearing strange jelly bag caps. In fact, these were hoods protecting the mineworkers against dust and dirt. The ends of the hoods could be filled with sheep’s wool to protect the mineworker’s head in the low galleries. Since the work of the mineworkers was incomprehensible and mysterious for the public, many tales about the mining were told over time. By and by dwarfs, goblins and good folk, shown with jelly bag caps, joined these tales. In the well-known fairy story of “Snow White and the seven dwarfs” as well as the German Mainzel Men, sandman and the Smurfs as well as in our garden gnomes this headgear of the medieval mineworkers still exists.