Remembering the red zones: heritage-making in the more-than-human-worlds of modern conflict

A critical analysis of the memorial landscape at Vimy Ridge, France, reveals that 'zone rouge' (red zones)—heavily contaminated and destroyed areas from World War I—can serve as powerful memorials to the more-than-human cost of modern warfare. These forbidden landscapes challenge conventional heritage discourses by acknowledging nature's role in conflict, contrasting with human-centric remembrance practices. The study compares these isolated sections with manicured public spaces, arguing that red zones offer a pivotal perspective on the ecological and human impacts of war, enriching post-conflict heritage narratives.

Leonard, M. (2024). Remembering the red zones: heritage-making in the more-than-human-worlds of modern conflict. International Journal of Heritage Studies, 30(10), 1263–1276. https://doi.org/10.1080/13527258.2024.2386699