Helsingin Sanomat article about the conflict archaeology, finds and history of "Durchgangslager Hangö"

A german coin found during the excavations of the German transition camp. Photo Jukka Gröndal/HS

A lengthy article about the conflict archaeology of "Durchgangslager Hangö" was published in the leading Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat today. The article focused on only a few of the aspects of the research of the camp (archaeology, finds and the history of the camp). Because lack of space and because he wanted to keep the story focused and manyissues were left out by the decision of the reporter.

http://www.hs.fi/kotimaa/art-2000005113753.html

One of the things left out from this first article about my work on a doctoral dissertation about the camp was the co-operation with Jan Martti Kaila and Japo Knuutila in the art project "Poetic Archaeology". We will work on a large separate article about this art project later this spring so that this groundbreaking project that combines photographic art and archaeology gets all the attention it deserves.

"Baracke" interior. Photo Jan Martti Kaila and Japo Knuutila for "Poetic Archaeology".

Almost immediately after the article was published I received a text message from an elderly gentleman who informed me that his grandmother (now 100 years old) had worked in the "Lotta Kantine" of the German transition camp. I will interview her next week. This is why articles like the one in HS are so important, they are very important for the research!! I have also received several applications to participate in the excavations next summer. This benefits both "Poetic Archaeology" and my work on the history and archaeology of the camp.

Lotta-Svärd "Kantine".