nearly everyone has a friend or relative who was involved in the Second World War
who was involved in the Second World War
who was involved in the Second World War in some capacity in many ways we have
in some capacity in many ways we have
in some capacity in many ways we have all spent our lives in the shadow of
all spent our lives in the shadow of
all spent our lives in the shadow of that war but the taken-for-granted
that war but the taken-for-granted
that war but the taken-for-granted notion that these veterans are still
notion that these veterans are still
notion that these veterans are still available to talk to is in fact no
available to talk to is in fact no
available to talk to is in fact no longer true
longer true
longer true the memories stories and secrets of the
the memories stories and secrets of the
the memories stories and secrets of the Second World War are in fact slipping
Second World War are in fact slipping
Second World War are in fact slipping away I’m going to share with you how
away I’m going to share with you how
away I’m going to share with you how archaeology can help preserve this
archaeology can help preserve this
archaeology can help preserve this history can anyone identify this skull
history can anyone identify this skull
history can anyone identify this skull any zoo archeologists or enthusiasts in
any zoo archeologists or enthusiasts in
any zoo archeologists or enthusiasts in house guess this is Dan your dog Oh
house guess this is Dan your dog Oh
house guess this is Dan your dog Oh excellent well you’re much more
excellent well you’re much more
excellent well you’re much more reasonable than I because when my trial
reasonable than I because when my trial
reasonable than I because when my trial first scraped against this skull and the
first scraped against this skull and the
first scraped against this skull and the dirt began to fall off I was sure I’d
dirt began to fall off I was sure I’d
dirt began to fall off I was sure I’d stumbled upon a baby t-rex
stumbled upon a baby t-rex
stumbled upon a baby t-rex which would have been quite odd
which would have been quite odd
which would have been quite odd considering this was an archaeological
considering this was an archaeological
considering this was an archaeological dig and not a paleontological dig not to
dig and not a paleontological dig not to
dig and not a paleontological dig not to mention the skull was surrounded on all
mention the skull was surrounded on all
mention the skull was surrounded on all sides by tin cans and bottles and other
sides by tin cans and bottles and other
sides by tin cans and bottles and other trash dateable to the 1940s but luckily
trash dateable to the 1940s but luckily
trash dateable to the 1940s but luckily for my research project if not for my
for my research project if not for my
for my research project if not for my ego
ego
ego I had a fauna osteology on site with me
I had a fauna osteology on site with me
I had a fauna osteology on site with me that day she took one look at it and
that day she took one look at it and
that day she took one look at it and quickly corrected me this is of course
quickly corrected me this is of course
quickly corrected me this is of course no t-rex but rather the complete skull
no t-rex but rather the complete skull
no t-rex but rather the complete skull of a Canis lupus familiaris in common
of a Canis lupus familiaris in common
of a Canis lupus familiaris in common terms the domestic dog this canine skull
terms the domestic dog this canine skull
terms the domestic dog this canine skull the skull of a black lab specifically
the skull of a black lab specifically
the skull of a black lab specifically was nevertheless an intriguing find and
was nevertheless an intriguing find and
was nevertheless an intriguing find and it was just one of the fifty thousand
it was just one of the fifty thousand
it was just one of the fifty thousand artifacts that I excavated from the site
artifacts that I excavated from the site
artifacts that I excavated from the site of an abandoned prisoner of war camp
of an abandoned prisoner of war camp
of an abandoned prisoner of war camp that held Nazi Africa Corps soldiers in
that held Nazi Africa Corps soldiers in
that held Nazi Africa Corps soldiers in Manitoba Canada during the Second World
Manitoba Canada during the Second World
Manitoba Canada during the Second World War the British had too many German POWs
War the British had too many German POWs
War the British had too many German POWs to handle on their own and the shipped
to handle on their own and the shipped
to handle on their own and the shipped as many as possible to colonies and
as many as possible to colonies and
as many as possible to colonies and former colonies Canada accepted about
former colonies Canada accepted about
former colonies Canada accepted about 30,000 of them some of the historic
30,000 of them some of the historic
30,000 of them some of the historic trash I excavated would have been left
trash I excavated would have been left
trash I excavated would have been left behind by these six fellows right here
behind by these six fellows right here
behind by these six fellows right here including one of those black labs humans
including one of those black labs humans
including one of those black labs humans and their trash are of course intimately
and their trash are of course intimately
and their trash are of course intimately connected but contrary to what is
connected but contrary to what is
connected but contrary to what is sometimes said I don’t believe that
sometimes said I don’t believe that
sometimes said I don’t believe that trash is just a reflection of culture I
trash is just a reflection of culture I
trash is just a reflection of culture I truly believe that trash is the essence
truly believe that trash is the essence
truly believe that trash is the essence of our culture and much can be said
of our culture and much can be said
of our culture and much can be said about a people or community or culture
about a people or community or culture
about a people or community or culture an entire country by what they throw
an entire country by what they throw
an entire country by what they throw away but archeologists have of course
away but archeologists have of course
away but archeologists have of course been looking at trash for several
been looking at trash for several
been looking at trash for several hundred years now but turning to the
hundred years now but turning to the
hundred years now but turning to the trash of modern times puts us in a
trash of modern times puts us in a
trash of modern times puts us in a unique position of being able to compare
unique position of being able to compare
unique position of being able to compare results from excavations or artifacts
results from excavations or artifacts
results from excavations or artifacts with living people and what living
with living people and what living
with living people and what living people have to say with the death of
people have to say with the death of
people have to say with the death of Florence Greene a veteran of the women’s
Florence Greene a veteran of the women’s
Florence Greene a veteran of the women’s Royal Air Force last year we
Royal Air Force last year we
Royal Air Force last year we unequivocally reached the end of the era
unequivocally reached the end of the era
unequivocally reached the end of the era of living memory for the First World War
of living memory for the First World War
of living memory for the First World War but now we’re reaching another milestone
but now we’re reaching another milestone
but now we’re reaching another milestone we’re entering the final phase of living
we’re entering the final phase of living
we’re entering the final phase of living memory of the Second World War but we’re
memory of the Second World War but we’re
memory of the Second World War but we’re at a unique moment we’re at a time when
at a unique moment we’re at a time when
at a unique moment we’re at a time when it is still possible to study the Second
it is still possible to study the Second
it is still possible to study the Second World War through the archives through
World War through the archives through
World War through the archives through archaeological excavations and by
archaeological excavations and by
archaeological excavations and by talking to the people who were actually
talking to the people who were actually
talking to the people who were actually there riding mountain camp was located
there riding mountain camp was located
there riding mountain camp was located in southwestern Manitoba inside a
in southwestern Manitoba inside a
in southwestern Manitoba inside a Canadian National Park riding mountain
Canadian National Park riding mountain
Canadian National Park riding mountain national park the camp operated for just
national park the camp operated for just
national park the camp operated for just two short years from fall 1943 to fall
two short years from fall 1943 to fall
two short years from fall 1943 to fall 1945 it was a work camp and the 500
1945 it was a work camp and the 500
1945 it was a work camp and the 500 prisoners there were expected to labor
prisoners there were expected to labor
prisoners there were expected to labor six days per week logging in the forest
six days per week logging in the forest
six days per week logging in the forest the camp was made up of 15 very sturdy
the camp was made up of 15 very sturdy
the camp was made up of 15 very sturdy buildings and it was uncommon ly well
buildings and it was uncommon ly well
buildings and it was uncommon ly well outfitted even by Canadian standards it
outfitted even by Canadian standards it
outfitted even by Canadian standards it had electricity running water radio
had electricity running water radio
had electricity running water radio television not television I was testing
television not television I was testing
television not television I was testing you guys showers flushing toilets all
you guys showers flushing toilets all
you guys showers flushing toilets all the comforts of home in fact but it had
the comforts of home in fact but it had
the comforts of home in fact but it had no fence and no guard towers and the
no fence and no guard towers and the
no fence and no guard towers and the POWs were even free to roam the woods
POWs were even free to roam the woods
POWs were even free to roam the woods within a couple miles of camp but with
within a couple miles of camp but with
within a couple miles of camp but with no fence to stop them they of course
no fence to stop them they of course
no fence to stop them they of course didn’t stay within those bounds but
didn’t stay within those bounds but
didn’t stay within those bounds but actually that’s another story this is
actually that’s another story this is
actually that’s another story this is what the site of the camp looks like
what the site of the camp looks like
what the site of the camp looks like from the air today no buildings stand
from the air today no buildings stand
from the air today no buildings stand and in fact on the ground it really just
and in fact on the ground it really just
and in fact on the ground it really just looks like an empty field but you can
looks like an empty field but you can
looks like an empty field but you can see in that photo hiking trails many a
see in that photo hiking trails many a
see in that photo hiking trails many a hiker actually passes right through this
hiker actually passes right through this
hiker actually passes right through this spot every summer in spring with in fact
spot every summer in spring with in fact
spot every summer in spring with in fact no idea that there rambling through the
no idea that there rambling through the
no idea that there rambling through the site of a former prisoner of war camp
site of a former prisoner of war camp
site of a former prisoner of war camp that held 500 Nazis tangible signs of
that held 500 Nazis tangible signs of
that held 500 Nazis tangible signs of the camp at the site are subtle but
the camp at the site are subtle but
the camp at the site are subtle but they’re nevertheless there the raised
they’re nevertheless there the raised
they’re nevertheless there the raised lines you see here reveal the footprints
lines you see here reveal the footprints
lines you see here reveal the footprints of where the camp buildings once stood
of where the camp buildings once stood
of where the camp buildings once stood though these footprints are barely
though these footprints are barely
though these footprints are barely visible when you’re in the field itself
visible when you’re in the field itself
visible when you’re in the field itself I was able to piece together the
I was able to piece together the
I was able to piece together the placement of each of the buildings
placement of each of the buildings
placement of each of the buildings through this ground elevation model and
through this ground elevation model and
through this ground elevation model and in addition to the hidden building
in addition to the hidden building
in addition to the hidden building foundations with tall grasses cleared
foundations with tall grasses cleared
foundations with tall grasses cleared away piles of trash were also revealed
away piles of trash were also revealed
away piles of trash were also revealed complete metal garbage cans were tossed
complete metal garbage cans were tossed
complete metal garbage cans were tossed here on the day the camp was a
here on the day the camp was a
here on the day the camp was a and those cans were full of garbage
and those cans were full of garbage
and those cans were full of garbage themselves they were last touched by
themselves they were last touched by
themselves they were last touched by human hands in late 1945 I located six
human hands in late 1945 I located six
human hands in late 1945 I located six different trash jumps in the forest
different trash jumps in the forest
different trash jumps in the forest around the camp and I excavated a
around the camp and I excavated a
around the camp and I excavated a sampling of each one and by comparing
sampling of each one and by comparing
sampling of each one and by comparing the location of these dumps with the
the location of these dumps with the
the location of these dumps with the placement of the buildings in my map I
placement of the buildings in my map I
placement of the buildings in my map I was able to connect the trash heaps with
was able to connect the trash heaps with
was able to connect the trash heaps with Pacific groups of people within the camp
Pacific groups of people within the camp
Pacific groups of people within the camp for example one dump could be positively
for example one dump could be positively
for example one dump could be positively associated just with the Canadian guards
associated just with the Canadian guards
associated just with the Canadian guards another one the one I’m crouching in in
another one the one I’m crouching in in
another one the one I’m crouching in in this photo belonged to the prisoners in
this photo belonged to the prisoners in
this photo belonged to the prisoners in that half metre yellow square you see
that half metre yellow square you see
that half metre yellow square you see right there you can spot a Listerine
right there you can spot a Listerine
right there you can spot a Listerine bottle a harmonica whisky flask shoe
bottle a harmonica whisky flask shoe
bottle a harmonica whisky flask shoe polish Portuguese sardines talcum powder
polish Portuguese sardines talcum powder
polish Portuguese sardines talcum powder and a distinctive blue milk of magnesia
and a distinctive blue milk of magnesia
and a distinctive blue milk of magnesia bottle the POWs clearly expended much
bottle the POWs clearly expended much
bottle the POWs clearly expended much effort in their personal grooming habits
effort in their personal grooming habits
effort in their personal grooming habits I’m asked hundreds of telling artifacts
I’m asked hundreds of telling artifacts
I’m asked hundreds of telling artifacts such as these combs but also cologne
such as these combs but also cologne
such as these combs but also cologne toothpaste razors aftershave mouthwash
toothpaste razors aftershave mouthwash
toothpaste razors aftershave mouthwash creams hair pomades
creams hair pomades
creams hair pomades you name it since they had their basic
you name it since they had their basic
you name it since they had their basic needs taken care of by the Canadians and
needs taken care of by the Canadians and
needs taken care of by the Canadians and since they were well treated
since they were well treated
since they were well treated they had three hots and a cot as one of
they had three hots and a cot as one of
they had three hots and a cot as one of my informants was fond of saying they
my informants was fond of saying they
my informants was fond of saying they had the time and resources to spare on
had the time and resources to spare on
had the time and resources to spare on seemingly less important things like
seemingly less important things like
seemingly less important things like aftershave and Cologne the moment I
aftershave and Cologne the moment I
aftershave and Cologne the moment I discovered this tin I was elated but I
discovered this tin I was elated but I
discovered this tin I was elated but I have to be entirely honest I wasn’t just
have to be entirely honest I wasn’t just
have to be entirely honest I wasn’t just excited about what the tin might tell us
excited about what the tin might tell us
excited about what the tin might tell us about the POWs camp or about the lives
about the POWs camp or about the lives
about the POWs camp or about the lives of the POWs rather I was excited that I
of the POWs rather I was excited that I
of the POWs rather I was excited that I had finally located that one iconic
had finally located that one iconic
had finally located that one iconic artifact that every archaeology project
artifact that every archaeology project
artifact that every archaeology project needs to keep the grant money coming in
until I produced an artifact with a
until I produced an artifact with a swastika on it even a tiny half
swastika on it even a tiny half
swastika on it even a tiny half centimeter swastika such as this one the
centimeter swastika such as this one the
centimeter swastika such as this one the future of my project was in serious
future of my project was in serious
future of my project was in serious doubt but this 10 and the 11 others like
doubt but this 10 and the 11 others like
doubt but this 10 and the 11 others like it that were recovered did in fact
it that were recovered did in fact
it that were recovered did in fact contributing it for valid reasons to
contributing it for valid reasons to
contributing it for valid reasons to every single one of these tins once
every single one of these tins once
every single one of these tins once containing a disc of Nazi approved
containing a disc of Nazi approved
containing a disc of Nazi approved chocolate was found in a trash heap
chocolate was found in a trash heap
chocolate was found in a trash heap created not by the German POWs but by
created not by the German POWs but by
created not by the German POWs but by the Canadian guards combined with other
the Canadian guards combined with other
the Canadian guards combined with other evidence this revealed that the POWs
evidence this revealed that the POWs
evidence this revealed that the POWs were in fact trading these chocolates
were in fact trading these chocolates
were in fact trading these chocolates that came out of their German Red Cross
that came out of their German Red Cross
that came out of their German Red Cross packages with the guards for things like
packages with the guards for things like
packages with the guards for things like alcohol these are some of the POWs that
alcohol these are some of the POWs that
alcohol these are some of the POWs that were interned at riding mountain work
were interned at riding mountain work
were interned at riding mountain work camp the young man on the far left in
camp the young man on the far left in
camp the young man on the far left in the front row is Joseph gab ski this is
the front row is Joseph gab ski this is
the front row is Joseph gab ski this is his prisoner identification card
his prisoner identification card
his prisoner identification card complete with mugshot which was issued
complete with mugshot which was issued
complete with mugshot which was issued to him when he arrived in Canada in 2010
to him when he arrived in Canada in 2010
to him when he arrived in Canada in 2010 I found mr. gab ski and of all the
I found mr. gab ski and of all the
I found mr. gab ski and of all the places in the world this man could have
places in the world this man could have
places in the world this man could have been living he was in a town called
been living he was in a town called
been living he was in a town called Chico California which was driving
Chico California which was driving
Chico California which was driving distance from Stanford California where
distance from Stanford California where
distance from Stanford California where I was living at the time
I was living at the time
I was living at the time mr. gab ski and I went for breakfast too
mr. gab ski and I went for breakfast too
mr. gab ski and I went for breakfast too I hop his favorite spot where he told me
I hop his favorite spot where he told me
I hop his favorite spot where he told me about his life as a child in Nazi
about his life as a child in Nazi
about his life as a child in Nazi Germany as a teenage tank mechanic under
Germany as a teenage tank mechanic under
Germany as a teenage tank mechanic under Rommel in Egypt as a young adult
Rommel in Egypt as a young adult
Rommel in Egypt as a young adult prisoner in Canada and as a heavy heavy
prisoner in Canada and as a heavy heavy
prisoner in Canada and as a heavy heavy duty mechanic for the next 50 years in
duty mechanic for the next 50 years in
duty mechanic for the next 50 years in Chico I was planning on seeing joseph
Chico I was planning on seeing joseph
Chico I was planning on seeing joseph agofsky again to really take my time and
agofsky again to really take my time and
agofsky again to really take my time and record what he said but mr. gap ski
record what he said but mr. gap ski
record what he said but mr. gap ski passed away just a few weeks after my
passed away just a few weeks after my
passed away just a few weeks after my first visit with him and I wasn’t able
first visit with him and I wasn’t able
first visit with him and I wasn’t able to see him again luckily mr. gap ski
to see him again luckily mr. gap ski
to see him again luckily mr. gap ski wasn’t my only informant these are some
wasn’t my only informant these are some
wasn’t my only informant these are some of the other men I found alive in Canada
of the other men I found alive in Canada
of the other men I found alive in Canada United States and in Germany who many
United States and in Germany who many
United States and in Germany who many years ago were interned at riding
years ago were interned at riding
years ago were interned at riding Mountain Klaus Maier when I arrived at
Mountain Klaus Maier when I arrived at
Mountain Klaus Maier when I arrived at his house in Hamburg pulled out an old
his house in Hamburg pulled out an old
his house in Hamburg pulled out an old shoe box inside that shoe box was his
shoe box inside that shoe box was his
shoe box inside that shoe box was his wartime memorabilia including his photo
wartime memorabilia including his photo
wartime memorabilia including his photo albums his grown grandchildren who you
albums his grown grandchildren who you
albums his grown grandchildren who you see in that photo were stunned
see in that photo were stunned
see in that photo were stunned grandpa had never before pulled out this
grandpa had never before pulled out this
grandpa had never before pulled out this box he had never shown it to anybody his
box he had never shown it to anybody his
box he had never shown it to anybody his entire life my visit prompted him to
entire life my visit prompted him to
entire life my visit prompted him to start thinking about that time and he
start thinking about that time and he
start thinking about that time and he realized that it was possible to bring
realized that it was possible to bring
realized that it was possible to bring this box out and in that moment mr.
this box out and in that moment mr.
this box out and in that moment mr. Meyers photographs saw the light of day
Meyers photographs saw the light of day
Meyers photographs saw the light of day for the first time in 70 years
for the first time in 70 years
for the first time in 70 years collectively the POWs I found had some
collectively the POWs I found had some
collectively the POWs I found had some pretty surprising things to say they all
pretty surprising things to say they all
pretty surprising things to say they all spoke of Canada with smiles on their
spoke of Canada with smiles on their
spoke of Canada with smiles on their faces and with twinkles in their eyes
faces and with twinkles in their eyes
faces and with twinkles in their eyes they said that riding mountain was more
they said that riding mountain was more
they said that riding mountain was more summer camp than work camp the message
summer camp than work camp the message
summer camp than work camp the message was clear the POWs lived better in
was clear the POWs lived better in
was clear the POWs lived better in Canada as prisoners than they had as
Canada as prisoners than they had as
Canada as prisoners than they had as soldiers in Europe or in Africa or any
soldiers in Europe or in Africa or any
soldiers in Europe or in Africa or any of the other places they had been and
of the other places they had been and
of the other places they had been and certainly better than they had lived in
certainly better than they had lived in
certainly better than they had lived in a destroyed post-war Germany in fact
a destroyed post-war Germany in fact
a destroyed post-war Germany in fact many of the POWs wished to stay in North
many of the POWs wished to stay in North
many of the POWs wished to stay in North America after the war but they weren’t
America after the war but they weren’t
America after the war but they weren’t allowed every single one was repatriated
allowed every single one was repatriated
allowed every single one was repatriated to Germany or wherever they were from
to Germany or wherever they were from
to Germany or wherever they were from but like Joseph gaps key from Chico it
but like Joseph gaps key from Chico it
but like Joseph gaps key from Chico it was only in the 1950s that they began to
was only in the 1950s that they began to
was only in the 1950s that they began to emigrate to Canada and the United States
emigrate to Canada and the United States
emigrate to Canada and the United States and elsewhere my informants all told me
and elsewhere my informants all told me
and elsewhere my informants all told me that they were treated with respect by
that they were treated with respect by
that they were treated with respect by the Canadians and that they were
the Canadians and that they were
the Canadians and that they were provided with everything they needed and
provided with everything they needed and
provided with everything they needed and yes the archaeological and the
yes the archaeological and the
yes the archaeological and the photographic evidence also point to the
photographic evidence also point to the
photographic evidence also point to the suggestion that the POWs were indeed
suggestion that the POWs were indeed
suggestion that the POWs were indeed treated quite well they were even
treated quite well they were even
treated quite well they were even allowed to carve their own canoes and
allowed to carve their own canoes and
allowed to carve their own canoes and paddle them on nearby whitewater Lake we
paddle them on nearby whitewater Lake we
paddle them on nearby whitewater Lake we found several surviving canoes just
found several surviving canoes just
found several surviving canoes just sitting on the surface lost in this deep
sitting on the surface lost in this deep
sitting on the surface lost in this deep forest these past 70 years things or
forest these past 70 years things or
forest these past 70 years things or material culture and anthropological
material culture and anthropological
material culture and anthropological jargon can be windows into the past
jargon can be windows into the past
jargon can be windows into the past present and future
present and future
present and future archaeology is one way of making
archaeology is one way of making
archaeology is one way of making connections between these old things and
connections between these old things and
connections between these old things and people and events one entry way into
people and events one entry way into
people and events one entry way into telling stories for creating knowledge
telling stories for creating knowledge
telling stories for creating knowledge or for interpreting the world around us
or for interpreting the world around us
or for interpreting the world around us the archaeology of modern times is in
the archaeology of modern times is in
the archaeology of modern times is in the unique position of being able to
the unique position of being able to
the unique position of being able to connect these old material things or
connect these old material things or
connect these old material things or recent material things for that matter
recent material things for that matter
recent material things for that matter with living people
with living people
with living people but it was only through this research
but it was only through this research
but it was only through this research project that I realized that we’re at a
project that I realized that we’re at a
project that I realized that we’re at a very unique moment one where it is
very unique moment one where it is
very unique moment one where it is possible to study the war through the
possible to study the war through the
possible to study the war through the archives through archaeology and by
archives through archaeology and by
archives through archaeology and by speaking to the people who were actually
speaking to the people who were actually
speaking to the people who were actually there simple math tells us that the
there simple math tells us that the
there simple math tells us that the possibility for this type of activity
possibility for this type of activity
possibility for this type of activity these types of interactions will be
these types of interactions will be
these types of interactions will be largely gone in the next five to ten
largely gone in the next five to ten
largely gone in the next five to ten years three out of eight of my best
years three out of eight of my best
years three out of eight of my best informants have passed away what this
informants have passed away what this
informants have passed away what this means is that we are on the cusp of the
means is that we are on the cusp of the
means is that we are on the cusp of the end of the era of living memory for the
end of the era of living memory for the
end of the era of living memory for the Second World War this is truly our final
Second World War this is truly our final
Second World War this is truly our final opportunity to meet face to face with
opportunity to meet face to face with
opportunity to meet face to face with the men and women that experienced that
the men and women that experienced that
the men and women that experienced that war firsthand for those of you with the
war firsthand for those of you with the
war firsthand for those of you with the interest and resources to formally study
interest and resources to formally study
interest and resources to formally study these these living archives of the
these these living archives of the
these these living archives of the Second World War
Second World War
Second World War I implore you to take that on these men
I implore you to take that on these men
I implore you to take that on these men and women will not be around much longer
and women will not be around much longer
and women will not be around much longer for those of you with family or friends
for those of you with family or friends
for those of you with family or friends with memories of those times I encourage
with memories of those times I encourage
with memories of those times I encourage you to seek those people out and share
you to seek those people out and share
you to seek those people out and share those moments with them thank you very
those moments with them thank you very
those moments with them thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] [Music]
[Music]
[Music] you
”
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