Archaeologists use scanning technology to reconstruct WWII tin mine in Ore Mountains
The former Rolava-Sauersack tin mine in the Ore Mountains was once a site of forced labour, built by the Nazis. Now, archaeologists are using scanning technology to create a virtual reconstruction of the abandoned mine, known for its striking concrete ruins and eerie atmosphere.
Tin mining in the Ore Mountains, situated along the Czech-German border in north-western Czechia, dates all the way back to the Middle Ages. However, the ruins near the village of Přebuz are much more recent.
The Rolava-Sauersack mine and ore-processing plant were built by the Nazis during World War II. Hundreds of people worked there, including prisoners of war forced to labour in harsh conditions.
The site was abandoned after the war, and its machinery was removed. However, its massive concrete structures still stand among the trees, slowly being reclaimed by the forest.
Now, archaeologists from the University of West Bohemia are trying to piece together what the complex looked like when it was still operating. Using 3D scanning, they are documenting the surviving structures and creating a virtual reconstruction of the plant.
Archaeologist Petr Hasil says the well-preserved remains offer a rare opportunity to explain the site's history to the public.
“This site will allow us to explain clearly to the general public what the processing plant was used for and what happened here. We are preparing a virtual 3D model of the factory as it originally looked, which will be accessible to the public through our videos and QR codes.”
To create the model, the researchers are using a mobile 3D laser scanner to capture the buildings in detail. Pavel Starosta, who specialises in surveying structures, explains how the technology works.
“The scanner head emits a laser beam that measures distances and angles. I can also display the scanned building in three dimensions, and as I move around, more parts of the structure gradually appear.”
The researchers are also trying to establish how the plant's machinery was arranged. Jan Hlaváč from the University of West Bohemia's Faculty of Mechanical Engineering is using historical construction drawings to reconstruct the equipment and its layout.
Although the machinery is long gone, the researchers are piecing together what happened to it after the war. Petr Hasil explains that the equipment was moved elsewhere, while the buildings were gradually left to decay.
“Mining and repair work here ended in May 1945, and maintenance continued until the end of 1947. The machinery was then transported to other facilities, the wooden structures rotted and collapsed, while the concrete ones remained.”
Although the ruins attract many visitors throughout the year, the site is officially closed to the public because of safety risks, including unprotected shafts and unstable structures.
The virtual reconstruction of the site is part of a project called Zdivočelá země (Land Gone Wild), funded by the Czech Ministry of Education. The project is now halfway through and is due to be completed in 2028.
