LAND: PAINFUL HERITAGE. Cultural landscapes of the Second World War in Norway. Phenomenology, Lessons and Management systems

The Second World War is a central part of the collective memory of Norway. However, the cultural landscapes of the war have been given little attention from both scholars and heritage management authorities in Norway. Especially traits not connected to th e national narrative of resistance are often neglected. Knowledge and memory of the cultural landscapes of war is important to prevent oblivion and to preserve this part of the cultural heritage. This project seeks to invigorate research on the cultural l andscapes of the Second World War, and strengthen the attention on heritage management, documentation and preservation. The main aims of the project are: To analyse the relationship between national identity and cultural landscapes of war, to review the i nteraction and connections between mental and physical cultural landscapes of war, to document neglected cultural landscapes, to reassess the criteria for protection under the Cultural Heritage Act, and to develop models for future management of the cultu ral heritage and landscapes of the Second World War. A main challenge is to locate and document such neglected physical remains. We will do this both by geophysical and archaeological methods. The research is carried out by an interdisciplinary group of s cholars from the Museum of Natural History and Archaeology at The Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim (NTNU) (www.ntnu.no/vm) and the Falstad Memorial and Human Rights Centre, Levanger (www.falstadsenteret.no). The project consists of three internally integrated research elements: 1. The management and use of Eastern European war graves in Northern Europe Dr. art. Marianne Neerland Soleim, historian, (post doc.-project), Falstad Centre 2. Landscape of Evil: Nazi camps as cultural heritage in Norwegian landscapes Prof. dr. art. Marek E. Jasinski, archaeologist, NTNU 3. Battlefields: Conflicts of Memory and Landscape Ph.D. Leiv Sem, folklorist (post doc.-project), Falstad Centre