O aspektach muzealniczych i konsekwencjach badań archeologicznych w miejscach poobozowych – aspekty warsztatowe, etyczne, społeczne

Abstract

ON THE MUSEOLOGICAL ASPECTS AND THE CONSEQUENCES OF CONDUCTING ARCHAE-OLOGICAL RESEARCH IN POST-CAMP SITES – TECHNICAL, ETHICAL, AND SOCIAL ASPECTS

Archaeology practised in memorial sites located in the areas of former Nazi German death and concentration camps has become the subject of widespread discussion. By now, archaeology has brought its methodology into the realm of contemporary times for good. How do we conduct research in locations where the history of millions of victims is still alive? What museological consequences do all the archaeological excavations have there? What about the bulk finds we obtain? The present article presents some topical issues that are currently the subject of debate among archaeologists, historians, museologists, as well as representatives of various religious communities. The problem of conducting earth works in post-camp areas is a complex one. While considering the necessity of working in the soil, we have to bear in mind the social and ethical dimension of our decisions. Moving around a place which is at the same time a cemetery and a symbol involves an enormous load of responsibility, and requires a clear-cut definition of the scope and method of the potential intervention. Preserving authenticity, a truly priceless value in the context of the last surviving witnesses of the horriffc historical events passing away, should become the absolute priority. Finding the golden mean, the perfect balance between what (and in what form) to preserve, and the necessity to carry out current protection measures (which, after all, do require intervention) poses a huge challenge. Cooperative effort to develop appropriate models of operation for martyrological institutions seems to be the only legitimate direction, and, perhaps, thanks to dialogue, in future we will be able to create a canon of norms which will helpus to preserve authenticity and simultaneously to take action that requires support from archaeologists.