Conflict archaeology in the landscape : a survey of world war II defences at Selmun, Malta

Abstract

This dissertation focuses on defences in the area of Selmun, analyses them from a landscape perspective, and uses GIS to aid this. The fort present at Selmun, Fort Campbell, was also included in this research. The location of the defences shows that the choice of placement was not haphazard and arbitrary but based on the topography of the landscape. The landscape plays an important role in how defences are sited and oriented, in order to effectively defend areas. Areas that were deemed to be vulnerable to landing forces were covered by more than one defensive structure and these were also constructed at the weak points themselves, creating a ‘defensive crust’ or stop-line. Because of this, a landscape archaeology approach was adopted in order to understand how the landscape influenced the placement of the defences. The structures built at Fort Campbell indicate that the site was chosen for its height, allowing a wide field of view to direct the coastal guns. Furthermore, the efforts at deception can be clearly seen with defensive structures constructed with camouflage and are low-lying while ancillary buildings mimic rural farmhouses. Furthermore, the thesis provided the opportunity to present the development of Conflict Archaeology. Conflict Archaeology is the archaeological investigation of conflict throughout human history, and is an umbrella term used for a variety of topics that are related to conflict. The advances made by this sub-discipline have cemented it and is being accepted by archaeologists around the world. Furthermore, another sub-discipline is also gaining momentum, Modern Conflict Archaeology, which focuses solely on 20th century conflicts. With the ever-diminishing veterans and survivors, the Second World War is being studied from an archaeological perspective, unveiling more information on this conflict. The thesis shows the potential that exists for these sub-disciplines in Malta and what can be gained from an investigation on Second World War defences.