Gone but not Forgotten: Archaeological approaches to the site of the former Treblinka Extermination Camp in Poland
Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały, No. Holocaust Studies and Materials (2013), Pages: 253-289
Submission Date: 2020-12-13Publication Date: 2013-02-20
https://doi.org/10.32927/zzsim.809
Abstract
Public impression of the Holocaust is unquestionably centred on knowledge about, and the image of, Auschwitz-Birkenau – the gas chambers, the crematoria, the systematic and industrialized killing of victims. Conversely, knowledge of the former extermination camp at Treblinka, which stands in stark contrast in terms of the visible evidence that survives pertaining to it, is less embedded in general public consciousness. As this paper argues, the contrasting level of knowledge about Auschwitz-Birkenau and Treblinka is centred upon the belief that physical evidence of the camps only survives when it is visible and above-ground. The perception of Treblinka as having been “destroyed” by the Nazis, and the belief that the bodies of all of the victims were cremated without trace, has resulted in a lack of investigation aimed at answering questions about the extent and nature of the camp, and the locations of mass graves and cremation pits. This paper discusses the evidence that demonstrates that traces of the camp do survive. It outlines how archival research and non-invasive archaeological survey has been used to re-evaluate the physical evidence pertaining to Treblinka in a way that respects Jewish Halacha Law. As well as facilitating spatial and temporal analysis of the former extermination camp, this survey has also revealed information about the cultural memory associated with the site and how much has been forgotten about its history.
Keywords
Treblinka , Holocaust archaeology , extermination camp , physical evidence , Jewish Halacha law
License
Copyright (c) 2013 Author&"Holocaust Studies and Materials"

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
The journal is published under the Diamond Open Access Standard, CC-BY-4.0 Deed - Attribution 4.0 International - Creative Commons
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Caroline Sturdy Colls, Gone but not forgotten: Archaeological Approaches to the Site of the Former Treblinka Extermination Camp in Poland , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 8 (2012)
Similar Articles
- Michał Bilewicz, Karolina Marcinkowska, The social psychology of the Holocaust: from naive situationism to understanding the role of ideology , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 20 (2024)
- Ewa Wiatr, At the Margin of the Functioning of Polish Courts in the General Government. Case of Majer Wolberg , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 11 (2015)
- Marcin Zaremba, “That Entire Jewish Band Is Finally Dead.” Extermination of Jews as presented in 1942 letters of German soldiers , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 10 (2014)
- Anna Styczyńska, „Nie powinniście postrzegać tego jako wyniku naszej lekkomyślności lub tchórzostwa”. Testamenty Fajwisza Kamlarza i Abrahama Zajfa, uczestników buntu w obozie pracy przymusowej dla Żydów w Koninie , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 18 (2022)
- Krzysztof Persak, The Exhumation That (Almost) Did Not Happen. The 2001 Archeological-exhumation Works at Jedwabne and Their Results , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 14 (2018)
- Krzysztof Persak, What do we know today about German repressions for help to Jews? On the book Represje za pomoc Żydom na okupowanych ziemiach polskich w czasie II wojny światowej , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 16 (2020)
- Adam Sitarek, “Food Provision in the Camp Is Purportedly Excellent…” What the Łódź Ghetto Residents Knew About the Chełmno nad Nerem Death Centre , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 13 (2017)
- Avihu Ronen, Chajka Klinger’s Memoir , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 9 (2013)
- Justyna Majewska, “The Witnesses Testified as Follows…” Records of Interrogations of Polish Railways Employees who Worked at the Stations near the Operation Reinhardt Camps , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. 13 (2017)
- Jerzy Mazurek, Alina Skibińska, “Barwy Białe” on their Way to Aid Fighting Warsaw. The Crimes of the Home Army against the Jews , Zagłada Żydów. Studia i Materiały: No. Holocaust Studies and Materials (2013)
<< < 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 > >>
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
English
Język Polski
