Possible start of operation vers 1530 (≈ 1530)
Dating by dendrochronology of woodwork.
1542-1610
Main operating period
Main operating period 1542-1610 (≈ 1576)
Mining peak.
1985
Rediscovered site
Rediscovered site 1985 (≈ 1985)
Archival studies and geophysical prospecting.
1989
Registration for historical monuments
Registration for historical monuments 1989 (≈ 1989)
Protection of remains by arrest.
1995
End of surface excavations
End of surface excavations 1995 (≈ 1995)
Partial recovery for retention.
1997
Start of underground excavations
Start of underground excavations 1997 (≈ 1997)
Scrub the galleries.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Total remains buried and cleared up to the 16th century, including the ground (Box 11-17): inscription by order of 18 October 1989
Key figures
Duc de Lorraine - Lord and sponsor
Beneficiary of mining.
Jacques Grandemange - Archaeologist and researcher
Author of studies on the site.
Origin and history
The Samson mine is a former silver and copper mining operation located in the Saint-Pierremont Valley in Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines, Upper Rhine. This line, considered the richest of France, was exploited from the 16th century, mainly between 1542 and 1610, under the authority of the Duke of Lorraine, the local lord. Woodland dendrochronological analyses suggest that activity began in the 1530s, although major works date back to the second half of the century.
The site was rediscovered in 1985 thanks to geophysical archives and prospecting, leading to archaeological excavations from that year. In 1989, it was added to the historical monuments, revealing complete installations: grilling, crushing, bocarding, washing, and even a forge. The remains, both on the surface (1,500 m2) and underground (wooded groves of 29.50 m leading to a 200 m cross-bank), delivered hundreds of tools, clothing and woodwork, providing valuable data on mining techniques and the climate of the time.
The excavations, completed on the surface in 1995 and still under way in the underground, allowed the organization of work and extraction methods to be reconstructed. Archaeological furniture includes rolling systems, mining tools, and traces of ore processing processes (desulphurization, sorting, grinding). After the excavations, some of the surface remains were covered to ensure their conservation, while the galleries continue to be studied for their historical and technical richness.
The Samson mining tile illustrates the economic importance of the Alsatian mines in the 16th century, under the control of the Dukes of Lorraine. Its exploitation reflects the technological and logistical challenges of the time, with an organized labour force to extract and process minerals on site. Archives and archaeological discoveries also highlight the key role of this mine in supplying precious metals in the region, while documenting the living and working conditions of miners.
