archaeological sites as the contested place of memory, history, identity, violence

december 3, 2009

Ruins sites of imagination, memory, nostalgia

Ayodhya, IndiaDestruction of the 16th century Babur mosqueDecember 6, 1992

Shia Shrines of Kerbela, Iraq: site of conflict and secterian violence

some arguments

1. Places of memory are multi-layered. Especially speaking of sacred/holy sites, which often have complex and layered histories, frequently feature hybrid materialities, hybrid histories. As the locus of the sacred and the site of continued cult activity, sacred places are appropriated by new religious traditions.

2. Places of memory are political and politically contested. Often become theaters of secterian violence.

3. Archaeology is deeply political, by definition, as a discipline that explores the material history of places. Its claims to “scientific objectivity” and expertise to provide “historical facts” can be hugely dangerous in justifying violence.

Bamiyan Buddhas

Destruction ofRock-cut Bamiyan Buddha statues,AfghanistanMarch 2001

Performative violence and the inscription of traumatic memory

Mandarom being destroyed. France 6 September 2001