1st February 2006, 11:39 AM
Rathje's work on 'Garbage Archaeology' in the US demonstrated perfectly in how far written records in modern times and actual activities of people do not always correspond. Isn't the excavation and investigation of mass graves in former Jugoslavia and Iraq also a type of modern 'archaeology' (at least forensic archaeologists were involved)? Here, also the 'official' written records do not correspond to the sad historic facts. Where do we draw the line between the excavation of WW1 graves in Belgium, bombed out Dresden or blitzed London, Nazi concentration camps in Poland and mass graves in former Yugoslavia and Iraq?
Archaeology doesn't stop at the Industrial Age or even WW2.
It might not be everyone's dream to dig up archaeology that consists of an all too familiar material repertoire or murder victims, but if it helps us to understand the past and 'us' better (as well as collecting evidence to prosecute former dictators and murderes) then it is sure worth it.
Garbage Project Info:
http://traumwerk.stanford.edu:3455/Symmetry/174
Archaeology doesn't stop at the Industrial Age or even WW2.
It might not be everyone's dream to dig up archaeology that consists of an all too familiar material repertoire or murder victims, but if it helps us to understand the past and 'us' better (as well as collecting evidence to prosecute former dictators and murderes) then it is sure worth it.
Garbage Project Info:
http://traumwerk.stanford.edu:3455/Symmetry/174