Excavator operator uncovers forgotten cellars containing enormous historic copper pans

The demolition of an old building in Povrly near Ústí nad Labem uncovered a piece of the area’s industrial past. An excavator operator found forgotten cellars containing two enormous ceramic vessels that resembled barrels used for sauerkraut.

The vessels turned out to be historic pans for molten copper. Their discovery recalled the local history of copper processing, which continues today through Povrly Copper Industries.

The company arranged for the pans to be removed and transferred to a museum, preserving the objects as a reminder of the region’s former metalworking industry.