The first lecture will introduce a new subdiscipline known as the archaeology of modernity or the present, whose major themes include the wars and mass repressions of the 20th century. The second to fifth lectures will focus on five thematic areas, including the archaeology of World War I, World War II, and Nazi and Communist totalitarianism. Course participants will learn about the goals, approaches, methods, and possibilities of interpretation in the study of material records in the context of current research and heritage practice in various parts of Europe. The next five lessons (6-10) will use specific examples to show how the above-mentioned procedures and methods can be applied in the management of historical heritage in the Czech Republic. We will focus on the issue of material remains from the end of World War II, traces of Nazi crimes associated with death marches, Nazi prison camps, and post-war penal labor camps associated with uranium ore mining. These lectures include examples of methodological approaches to researching and documenting neglected tangible remnants of 20th-century conflicts and totalitarian regimes. Students will also be presented with specific examples of archaeological finds from the sites presented and methods of their processing. The case studies also include specific procedures for managing dark modern heritage and proposals for the protection and presentation of these monuments (cooperation between rescue archaeological research, organizations ensuring the removal of pyrotechnic burdens, and the Czech Police, examples of cooperation with local authorities in the protection and presentation of monuments, cooperation with eyewitnesses, and the transfer of information about victims to their survivors). The eleventh lesson focuses on the pressing issue of the use of metal detectors for the illegal search for archaeological monuments, especially from the 20th century, and the twelfth lesson focuses on the export of archaeological artifacts and objects of historical and artistic value in the context of customs procedures. Each lecture is accompanied by a list of literature for further study and, in summary, as a separate item, Additional Literature and Resources at the end of the course. After consulting with the lecturer, students will choose one location associated with the dark legacy of the 20th century to visit, independently conduct a reconnaissance of visible material remains, determine whether and how the monument is presented to the public, and assess current threats (e.g., construction activity and other interventions). They will present their findings in the form of a written seminar paper and a short presentation, which will be delivered and discussed during the final thirteenth lesson. The lectures are provided by staff from the Department of Archaeology at the Faculty of Philosophy of the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen and an external specialist from the field of customs administration.
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