The Archaeology of Cultural Genocide: A Forensic Turn in Holocaust Studies?

Whilst historians have discussed cultural genocide during the Holocaust, the subject has received less attention from forensic investigators and archaeologists. This is in spite of the fact that cultural genocide directly relates to material remains, the built environment and heritage. It is also in spite of the fact that in recent years, there has been an increase in the number of forensic and archaeological investigations at Holocaust sites. This paper provides a timely assessment of approaches to the investigation of cultural genocide and an examination of the potential for a “forensic turn” in this topic. It will demonstrate how investigating sites of cultural genocide offers the opportunity to enhance knowledge of crimes perpetrated during the Holocaust and recover evidence of societies who, as a direct result of both physical and cultural genocide, were diminished, eradicated and/or forgotten.