Reconstructing a Painful Past: A Non-Invasive Approach to Reconstructing Lager Norderney in Alderney, the Channel Islands

Visual technology represents a powerful tool that can invoke a sense of place in a virtual world and bring the results of archaeological surveys into public consciousness. Such techniques are particularly useful when excavation is impractical or not permitted. This chapter outlines the results of the investigations on the site of the former labour camp of Lager Norderney in the Channel Islands. In the past, opinions concerning the site have revolved around the perception that it was destroyed. Archaeological survey has demonstrated that this is not the case and the presentation of these findings through digital means has offered new insights into their form, function and surviving extent without ground disturbance. By employing a methodology that addresses all of the physical and cultural layers associated with this painful period of history, it has been possible to generate resources that mitigate against some of the issues surrounding the investigation of the site.