Visualising Evidence and Landscapes of Atrocities: An Ethical Perspective

Over the last two decades, vast quantities of evidence from sites of Nazi persecution have been generated by forensic archaeologists, providing unique spatial and temporal understandings which enhance commemorative and educational opportunities. Generation and dissemination of these data present ethical challenges, as does the use of digital tools for data presentation connected to genocide and mass violence. In this chapter, we explore the ethical complexities associated with visualising forensic archaeologically-derived data through virtual heritage technologies. Our case study is the online platform Explore Lager Sylt, which resourced Desk-Based Analysis (DBA) and non-invasive archaeological data from fieldwork investigations at Sylt labour and concentration camp (Alderney, The Channel Islands). Focus groups, interviews and questionnaire surveys were used to evaluate this platform. Our findings demonstrate the value of disseminating information from sites of conflict, persecution, and genocide through virtual heritage technologies.