Cleaning, sorting and cataloging the excavation finds from "Deutsches Lager Hanko"

Since the beginning of this year I have been preoccupied with the cataloging and sorting of excavation finds from the 2014-2016 field seasons. The time consuming work (that´s part of the work on my doctoral dissertation of the German "Durchganslager Hangö" at the University of Helsinki)) is done  at "Kaapelitehdas" in Helsinki.

"Kaapelitehdas" in Helsinki.

The finds will be displayed in Helsinki 2017(photographic exhibition) and Hanko (museum exhibition 2018 ("Durchgangslager Hangö 1942-1944"). The finds, find catalogs and excavation reports will be kept by Hangö Museum after the exhibitions in Helsinki and Hanko.

 

The workspace at "Kaapelitehdas" is filled with WW2 excavation finds.

At the start of the project I decided that I will try to collect a total sample from a couple of closed find contexts of the German WW2 "Durchhangslager". Seems I made the right choice, although the find material is overwhelming. The osteological analysis and macrophossile sample analysis have not yet been completed.

Cleaned excavation finds from the "Entlausungsdorf" area of the "Durchgangslager Hangö".

The finds from teh excavations include  a wide range of finds that illustrate many different aspects of daily life in the different areas of the camp. Interesting objects that have been overlooked during the excavation pop up on a daily basis. Todays interesting small finds included a wonderful silver bracelet, well preserved fragments of black uniform cloth and a couple of military items with nice markings on them.

Makers mark (Overhof&Cie Lüdenscheid) on German gas mask container strap hook.

I will try to post finds here on a daily basis starting tomorrow 7.2.2017!