Krigsminner som samtidsarkeologisk kildemateriale

Abstract

Nyhavna, a section of the port of Trondheim, harbours the most dominating and massive remain of the Second World War in Norway, the U-boat base Dora. It consists of a large array of structures and port facilities, with the huge concrete submarine pens Dora I and Dora II as the most noticeable edifices. Constructed as a base of operations for the German U-boat warfare in the Atlantic, Dora was after the war taken over by the Norwegian Navy. Since the beginning of the 1960ies, it has been used by port authorities, private industry and civic and communal institutions for a variety of purposes. Dora remains one of the most impressive examples of the construction projects instigated by the German occupants, dramatically changing landscapes, cities and towns. To this day these structures have determined the uses and developments of these areas. In the case of Dora, this is especially striking due to the plans to transform the site into a large residential area. Such development plans brings to the fore a highly significant intersection where historical legacy meets current interest, needs and trends. To elucidate what is at stake in this situation, contemporary archaeology provides a toolbox for study of the complex relationship between the historical, material legacy that surrounds us, the requirements of a dynamic civil society and the individual as well as collective needs to relate to the past. Contemporary archaeology allows for the double strategy of exploring the properties of the material legacy while at the same time framing it in a historical context. Given the vested interest in such structures as Dora for instance with regards to their property value, an analysis will not only produce knowledge of academic value, but also offer reflections for practical usage in societal development. The inclusive perspective of contemporary archaeology precludes conventional epistemology in the sense that is required of the archaeologist to consider himself a part of the societal process studied. Thus, by developing new perspectives, contemporary archaeology participates in the epistemological refinement of the archaeological discipline at large.