Geospatial Science and the Archaeology of the First World War: Context for Conflict

This paper examines the role of geospatial technologies in the development of non-invasive archaeological research methods and relates this development to the expansion of an innovative sub-discipline: ‘conflict archaeology’. Archaeology is predicated on the principle that human behaviour leaves behind physical evidence that is patterned, recoverable and interpretable; while warfare and conflict can appear to be chaotic affairs, they incorporate behaviours that leave behind patterned evidence (Scott 2005). In the last decade, ‘conflict archaeology’ has become an established sub-field of archaeology, specifically investigating the formation, preservation and conservation of the material record at sites of conflict. These include battlefields and auxiliary sites, such as camps and cemeteries, which are associated with the broader anthropology of conflict (Saunders 2007; Schofield 2005). Many such sites remain sensitive places, in terms of their physical preservation and also with regard to the emotional and political associations bound with past conflict. This is particularly the case with sites of historic conflict, where the past events may still be active in extended social memory. It is often difficult and sometimes forbidden to investigate such sites using traditional archaeological methods of excavation; this poses a considerable challenge to archaeologists. The development of conflict archaeology has coincided with a rapid increase in the accessibility and affordability of geospatial technologies, including geophysical prospection, precise DGPS (differential Global Positioning System) survey and aerial imaging. This paper will outline the integration of these technologies with archaeological method, highlighting the ways in which targeted application of geospatial technologies is enabling the investigation of sensitive sites of conflict and enhancing research agendas in conflict archaeology. As examples, I draw on the investigation of sites from the First World War, including the mass grave at Pheasant Wood on the Western Front and the extensive battlefields of the Gallipoli Peninsula.