“This is Proof”? Forensic Evidence and Ambiguous Material Culture at Treblinka Extermination Camp

Caroline Sturdy Colls; Michael Branthwaite

doi:10.1007/s10761-017-0432-3

“This is Proof”? Forensic Evidence and Ambiguous Material Culture at Treblinka Extermination Camp

Caroline Sturdy Colls, Michael Branthwaite

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In recent years, a forensic archaeological project at Treblinka extermination camp has uncovered significant evidence relating to the mass murder that took place there. A number of questions emerged regarding the provenance and origins of objects discovered as part of this work, and why they had remained undiscovered for over 70 years. These discoveries led to an opportunity to confirm and challenge the history of the extermination camp, and demands (from the public) to view the objects. This paper will outline how archaeologists and artists came together to reflect on these issues, whilst simultaneously providing access to the new findings.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	430-453
Number of pages	24
Journal	International Journal of Historical Archaeology
Volume	22
Issue number	3
Early online date	20 Jul 2017
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10761-017-0432-3
Publication status	Published - 1 Sep 2018
Externally published	Yes

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This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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10.1007/s10761-017-0432-3Licence: Unspecified

Cite this

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title = "“This is Proof”? Forensic Evidence and Ambiguous Material Culture at Treblinka Extermination Camp",

abstract = "In recent years, a forensic archaeological project at Treblinka extermination camp has uncovered significant evidence relating to the mass murder that took place there. A number of questions emerged regarding the provenance and origins of objects discovered as part of this work, and why they had remained undiscovered for over 70 years. These discoveries led to an opportunity to confirm and challenge the history of the extermination camp, and demands (from the public) to view the objects. This paper will outline how archaeologists and artists came together to reflect on these issues, whilst simultaneously providing access to the new findings.",

keywords = "Artistic responses, Forensic archaeology, Holocaust, Treblinka (extermination and labor camps)",

author = "{Sturdy Colls}, Caroline and Michael Branthwaite",

note = "Funding Information: Thanks are due to the staff of the Museum of Struggle and Martyrdom in Treblinka and The Wiener Library; and Kevin Colls, Dean Northfield and the members of the archaeological field teams who have worked at Treblinka as part of the Finding Treblinka project. Thanks are also due to artists Janine Goldsworthy, Hilary Jack, Dave Griffiths, and Jenny Steele, whose works are included in the Finding Treblinka exhibitions. Financial support for the exhibition project was received from Staffordshire University and other donors who wish to remain anonymous. This article was made possible thanks to one of the author{\textquoteright}s (Caroline Sturdy Colls{\textquoteright}) tenure as a Fred and Maria Devinki Memorial Fellow at the Jack, Joseph and Morten Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.",

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doi = "10.1007/s10761-017-0432-3",

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AU - Branthwaite, Michael

N1 - Funding Information: Thanks are due to the staff of the Museum of Struggle and Martyrdom in Treblinka and The Wiener Library; and Kevin Colls, Dean Northfield and the members of the archaeological field teams who have worked at Treblinka as part of the Finding Treblinka project. Thanks are also due to artists Janine Goldsworthy, Hilary Jack, Dave Griffiths, and Jenny Steele, whose works are included in the Finding Treblinka exhibitions. Financial support for the exhibition project was received from Staffordshire University and other donors who wish to remain anonymous. This article was made possible thanks to one of the author’s (Caroline Sturdy Colls’) tenure as a Fred and Maria Devinki Memorial Fellow at the Jack, Joseph and Morten Mandel Center for Advanced Holocaust Studies, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. Publisher Copyright: © 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC.

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N2 - In recent years, a forensic archaeological project at Treblinka extermination camp has uncovered significant evidence relating to the mass murder that took place there. A number of questions emerged regarding the provenance and origins of objects discovered as part of this work, and why they had remained undiscovered for over 70 years. These discoveries led to an opportunity to confirm and challenge the history of the extermination camp, and demands (from the public) to view the objects. This paper will outline how archaeologists and artists came together to reflect on these issues, whilst simultaneously providing access to the new findings.

AB - In recent years, a forensic archaeological project at Treblinka extermination camp has uncovered significant evidence relating to the mass murder that took place there. A number of questions emerged regarding the provenance and origins of objects discovered as part of this work, and why they had remained undiscovered for over 70 years. These discoveries led to an opportunity to confirm and challenge the history of the extermination camp, and demands (from the public) to view the objects. This paper will outline how archaeologists and artists came together to reflect on these issues, whilst simultaneously providing access to the new findings.

KW - Artistic responses

KW - Forensic archaeology

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JO - International Journal of Historical Archaeology

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“This is Proof”? Forensic Evidence and Ambiguous Material Culture at Treblinka Extermination Camp

Abstract

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Other files and links

Finding Treblinka: Forensic and Archaeological Approaches to Treblinka Extermination and Labour Camps

What the Nazis Tried to Hide: Archaeological Investigations at Treblinka Extermination and Labour Camps

Finding Treblinka: Forensic and Archaeological Approaches to Treblinka Extermination and Labour Camps

Holocaust medal of honour awarded to Treblinka archaeologist

Treblinka Inside Hitler's Secret Death Camp

Cite this

“This is Proof”? Forensic Evidence and Ambiguous Material Culture at Treblinka Extermination Camp

Abstract

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Activities

Finding Treblinka: Forensic and Archaeological Approaches to Treblinka Extermination and Labour Camps

What the Nazis Tried to Hide: Archaeological Investigations at Treblinka Extermination and Labour Camps

Finding Treblinka: Forensic and Archaeological Approaches to Treblinka Extermination and Labour Camps

Press/Media

Holocaust medal of honour awarded to Treblinka archaeologist

Treblinka Inside Hitler's Secret Death Camp

Cite this