Post-Conflict Archaeology and Cultural Heritage: Rebuilding Knowledge, Memory and Community from War-Damaged Material Culture

Post-conflict archaeology emerges as a critical field, blending historical archaeology with the urgent need to address modern cultural heritage destruction and community healing. This volume presents diverse case studies from global conflict zones, analyzing effective strategies for post-conflict reconstruction that prioritize local relevance and community involvement. It highlights legal frameworks like the 1954 Hague Convention and the role of international organizations such as UNESCO in mitigating damage. The research emphasizes the importance of collaboration between scholars and military forces to safeguard heritage sites, while also critiquing shared responsibility narratives. Successful projects, such as those in Afghanistan and Brazil, demonstrate how community-archaeology approaches can foster pride and acceptance of cultural heritage, even among marginalized groups. Conversely, it warns against potential misuse of heritage work, as seen in Rwanda, where memorials risk perpetuating tribal divisions. The book also showcases innovative documentation projects like EAMENA and NKDP, which leverage satellite imagery to identify at-risk sites. Ultimately, it underscores the need for methodologically sound, community-inclusive conservation efforts to ensure sustainable heritage protection and post-conflict societal healing.

Witt, M. (2018). Post-Conflict Archaeology and Cultural Heritage: Rebuilding Knowledge, Memory and Community from War-Damaged Material Culture. Journal of Eastern Mediterranean Archaeology and Heritage Studies, 6(3), 255–258. https://doi.org/10.5325/jeasmedarcherstu.6.3.0255