Honoring the Dead Over There

: Investigating American Memorials and Commemoration of the First World War Dead in Europe During the Centenary

Abstract

Adopting an interdisciplinary ‘modern conflict archaeology’ approach, this thesis is an innovative study of American First World War Cemetery and Memorial landscapes in Europe. The three case studies are the Meuse-Argonne Cemetery in France, Brookwood Cemetery in England, and Flanders Fields Cemetery at Waregem in Belgium. I examine modern commemoration practices at these sites, incorporating the use and maintenance of material culture. I compare shared themes that appear in each of the places and their connected landscapes. Specifically, this thesis examines how Americans and local Europeans have engaged with US military cemeteries established by the Federal Government after the First World War. My aim is also to show the original intent of these sites compared to later reinterpretations and changes in meaning over time, not least in light of the recent 2014-2018 Centenary events. In some cases, auxiliary sites have been investigated to help explain the interconnectedness of sites with their wider landscapes, or better explain how and why the site exists, and the purpose it honors. Whereas most prior research on this topic has focused on the historical, political, and architectural aspects of such places, this current investigation of the ‘social life’ of the material culture of these sites aims to contribute new and valuable insights concerning the anthropology of honoring the sacred war dead from American and local European perspectives.

Date of Award	6 Dec 2022
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Bristol
Supervisor	Nicholas J Saunders (Supervisor)