Books by Gavin J Lindsay
Rome's Caledonian Corridor, 2024
Rome's Caledonian Corridor is a fresh take on an old archaeological enigma - what were the Romans... more Rome's Caledonian Corridor is a fresh take on an old archaeological enigma - what were the Romans doing in Perthshire? Written in a popular format and richly illustrated throughout with newly commissioned maps and reconstructive artwork of archaeological sites never previously visualised, the booklet is an accessible introduction to a fascinating episode in the region's history.
For readers already familiar with the subject, Rome's Caledonian Corridor offers something different as it steps away from the more familiar narratives, leaves behind many of the assumptions that underlie traditional interpretations, and presents the evidence in a new light.
Appropriately for a publication from The Library of Innerpeffray (Scotland's oldest lending library) this booklet also re-engages with a variety of classical sources and Latin terminology, bringing a refreshing reconnection to the ancient Roman world - all in just 32 pocket-sized pages!
Available to purchase from: https://innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk/
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Interpretation Leaflets by Gavin J Lindsay
Wartime Orkney Leaflet 1: Lyness Wartime Heritage Trail, 2024
This leaflet offers an introduction to many of the wartime archaeological sites still visible aro... more This leaflet offers an introduction to many of the wartime archaeological sites still visible around the WWII Royal Naval base at Lyness on the Island of Hoy, Orkney.
The sites that feature in the Wartime Orkney Leaflet series have been carefully selected for their visibility from public roads, paths or ferries, making them an ideal companion for any visitors or residents interested in finding out more about Orkney's rich wartime heritage.
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Wartime Orkney Leaflet 2: Hoy & Walls Wartime Heritage Trail, May 2024
This leaflet offers an introduction to a few of the many hundreds of wartime archaeological sites... more This leaflet offers an introduction to a few of the many hundreds of wartime archaeological sites that exist across the Island of Hoy, Orkney. The sites that feature in this leaflet have been carefully selected for their visibility from public roads, paths or from the ferry making this an ideal companion for any visitors or residents interested in finding out more about the Island's rich wartime heritage.
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Published Academic Book Chapters by Gavin J Lindsay
Multivocal Archaeologies of the Pacific War, 1941-45: Collaboration, Reconciliation and Renewal, 2024
The island of Peleliu in the Republic of Palau, Micronesia is host to what is arguably the best-p... more The island of Peleliu in the Republic of Palau, Micronesia is host to what is arguably the best-preserved island battlefield from World War Two’s Pacific theatre of operations. Beneath a densely regenerated jungle canopy is a rich material legacy of war forged in the heat of intense close-quarters fighting across the island’s compact coral terrain in 1944. This chapter reveals some of the incredible untold human stories of this fierce battle found encoded in the island landscape and the material remains scattered across its surface. Presented here are some of the results from archaeological survey and analysis work undertaken using a reflexive, multi-source, community-based research approach which provided the keys to unlocking these incredible narratives.
This chapter offers a sense of the atmosphere, pace and intensity of events that created such a poignant archaeological record whilst bringing the reader closer to individuals on both sides of the conflict, their ordeals and their experiences as they fought and died over a small Pacific island far from home.
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Heritage and Memory of War: Responses from Small Islands, 2015
The battle for Peleliu in what is now the Republic of Palau, Micronesia, took place in late 1944 ... more The battle for Peleliu in what is now the Republic of Palau, Micronesia, took place in late 1944 and was one of the most bitter island conflicts of the Pacific War. The 11,000-strong Japanese garrison died almost to a man, along with thousands of forced labourers from Korea and elsewhere; the invading Americans took some of their highest proportional casualties of the entire war. The indigenous cultural, and sacred, landscape of the island was obliterated, with far-reaching social and psychological consequences for the native Palauans. Building on extensive archaeological surveys of the battlefield, this paper explores the different ways in which the former combatants, the indigenous population, bystanders and external stakeholders have chosen to remember the fighting through their relationship with its material remains. In particular, we focus on the memorial process that actually began during the battle itself, in the form of proactive souvenir hunting. Often commencing literally seconds after enemy soldiers died, and conducted to the point of self-endangerment during ongoing combat, this phenomenon was widespread in the Pacific campaigns (and elsewhere) and is underrepresented in the literature of war. As heirlooms in veteran families, the resulting material culture is now itself part of Peleliu's documented archaeological heritage. The collection of battlefield debris continues today, at a critical intersection with the appropriate and respectful recovery of human remains. Against a contemporary backdrop of geopolitical concerns that still resonate from the war, conflicting memories of the battle for Peleliu are reified as both the sacred and the profane.
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Published Academic Papers by Gavin J Lindsay
Journal of Conflict Archaeology, Sep 1, 2013
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Academic Research Thesis/Dissertations by Gavin J Lindsay
University of Durham, 2006
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University of the Highlands & Islands, 2009
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PhD Thesis, 2017
The Second World War (1939-1945) is one of the most violent episodes to have socially and cultura... more The Second World War (1939-1945) is one of the most violent episodes to have socially and culturally transformed humanity in recent history. It created a material-rich legacy of objects, structures and memories that continues to evoke powerful emotive responses in different people as part of cultural heritage processes. Whether scenes of violent engagements, bases of defence, training, provision or recuperation, small islands across the globe were subjected to significantly high levels of military activity. As a result, many small islands possess prolific assemblages of well-preserved war-generated material which endure as a powerful and distinctive feature of their present-day landscapes.
This thesis presents a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to investigating the material legacy of recent conflict on small islands. It considers this legacy as a multicultural, multiple-community archaeology that exists within a post-conflict environment of ongoing social recovery and reconciliation. It argues that research in such a setting should therefore be conducted in partnership with members of stake-holding communities with priority given to investigative outputs that are of relevance and value to them. Two community-based projects conducted on the islands of Hoy, UK and Peleliu, Republic of Palau provide case studies of how such an approach may be delivered with beneficial results to communities and the academy in different post-conflict, political, social and geographical climates. Through these examples this thesis showcases a flexible, integrated methodology for effective, engaging and community-accessible characterisation of challenging WWII archaeological landscapes. It offers new insights into island experiences of WWII and therefore into our wider understanding of the most indiscriminate, material-driven conflict that humanity has witnessed. In design, delivery and reporting this research also offers a response to some of the complex social issues associated with war heritage, fostering a culture of reconciliatory respect between dissonant groups.
AVAILABLE TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD USING THE FILE LINK ABOVE OR COPY THIS URL:
https://abdn.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/delivery/44ABE_INST:44ABE_VU1/12152418140005941
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Commissioned Reports by Gavin J Lindsay
The Republic of Palau is an archipelago of some 350 islands located on the western rim of the Car... more The Republic of Palau is an archipelago of some 350 islands located on the western rim of the Carolines in Micronesia and near its southern tip lies the island of Peleliu: a small 15km2, low platform reef island of uplifted coralline limestone reef and high limestone ridges (Figure 1). Although it may appear isolated today, in 1944 Peleliu stood at a strategic crossroads in the Pacific theatre of operations as World War Two (WWII) raged on into its fifth year. With its airfield and strong garrison this vital link in Imperial Japan’s National Defence Zone posed a potential threat to the United States of America’s westward offensive across the Pacific towards the Philippines. On 15th September 1944, US armed forces conducted a seaborne invasion of Peleliu thus beginning one of the fiercest, bloodiest and longest battles of WWII; 73 days of relentless fighting followed during which nearly 16,000 men of both sides lost their lives.
As a result of the battle fought in 1944, the island of Peleliu is now host to one of the best preserved and least disturbed WWII battlefield landscapes of the Pacific Theatre of Operations; in recognition of this it has been designated a US Historic Landmark since 1984. In November 2014 the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen (UoA), UK was awarded a contract by the Peleliu War Historical Society Inc. (PWHS), a United States of America 501(c) 3 organisation, to undertake a combined scheme of archaeological field and archive based research on selected areas within the Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark. The grant that funded this work was awarded to PWHS by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program (Grant agreement no: GA-2287-13-018).
PAS’14 recorded a total of 260 individual or clustered archaeological sites and artefacts with 274 individual coordinate points captured relating to the individual features or concentrations that form elements of these sites/assemblages.
This report represents the principal output of the PWHS contract and is intended to offer a summary of the research activities that have been undertaken as part of the project. Through the interpretation of the data gathered from these activities, this document also seeks to offer new and perhaps alternative perspectives on the Battle of Peleliu as well as a series of reflective recommendations to complement future initiatives supporting the long term sustainable preservation and interpretation of Peleliu’s unique WWII battlefield.
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With the densest concentration of well-preserved wartime sites in Orkney and perhaps one of the l... more With the densest concentration of well-preserved wartime sites in Orkney and perhaps one of the least disturbed WWII defence landscapes in the UK, the Island of Hoy is home to an incredibly significant, visually dominating but little known material legacy from recent world conflict. In October 2013, the Island of Hoy Development Trust (IoHDT) employed a Graduate Heritage Officer to undertake a dedicated 12 month placement focusing on the island’s rich World War Two (WWII) archaeological heritage.
This development document represents the principal output of the Legacies of Conflict Project and intends to present a summary of the activities and initiatives that have been implemented over the past year to address the three aims detailed above. Through the interpretation of the results from these activities, this document also offers a series of recommendations to support and guide future initiatives and funding applications for the long term sustainable preservation and interpretation of Hoy’s unmatched WWII heritage.
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On 15th September 1944, the island of Peleliu, located in the Caroline Islands, western Micronesi... more On 15th September 1944, the island of Peleliu, located in the Caroline Islands, western Micronesia was invaded by a substantial American force from the 1st Marine Division, later reinforced by Soldiers of the 81st Infantry Division. Having relatively quickly taken the beaches and airfield, though with heavy losses, the Marines next encountered the elaborately prepared cave-based defenses of the Peleliu’s ridge system. Their experiences in the seemingly endless ridges, caves and ravines of the Omleblochel, which became known to Americans as Bloody Nose Ridge, has largely defined the collective American memory of the war on Peleliu. Before the final destruction of the Japanese garrison there, the Americans were forced to fight one of the most dehumanising and costly battles of the Pacific War.
This report presents the results of a nine-day survey of the Peleliu battlefield that took place in December 2010. The survey focused on areas previously documented by Denfeld in 1981 to see what sites still survived and on those areas thought most likely to have a high density of undiscovered sites. In all the survey documented we 285 WWII sites, 200 of which were previously unrecorded by archaeologists.
The team members were continually amazed by the quantity and quality of the historic archaeological record on Peleliu which easily deserves its reputation as the best preserved WWII battlefield remaining in the Pacific Theatre.
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Island of Hoy Newsletter Articles by Gavin J Lindsay
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Books by Gavin J Lindsay
For readers already familiar with the subject, Rome's Caledonian Corridor offers something different as it steps away from the more familiar narratives, leaves behind many of the assumptions that underlie traditional interpretations, and presents the evidence in a new light.
Appropriately for a publication from The Library of Innerpeffray (Scotland's oldest lending library) this booklet also re-engages with a variety of classical sources and Latin terminology, bringing a refreshing reconnection to the ancient Roman world - all in just 32 pocket-sized pages!
Available to purchase from: https://innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk/
Interpretation Leaflets by Gavin J Lindsay
The sites that feature in the Wartime Orkney Leaflet series have been carefully selected for their visibility from public roads, paths or ferries, making them an ideal companion for any visitors or residents interested in finding out more about Orkney's rich wartime heritage.
Published Academic Book Chapters by Gavin J Lindsay
This chapter offers a sense of the atmosphere, pace and intensity of events that created such a poignant archaeological record whilst bringing the reader closer to individuals on both sides of the conflict, their ordeals and their experiences as they fought and died over a small Pacific island far from home.
Published Academic Papers by Gavin J Lindsay
Academic Research Thesis/Dissertations by Gavin J Lindsay
This thesis presents a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to investigating the material legacy of recent conflict on small islands. It considers this legacy as a multicultural, multiple-community archaeology that exists within a post-conflict environment of ongoing social recovery and reconciliation. It argues that research in such a setting should therefore be conducted in partnership with members of stake-holding communities with priority given to investigative outputs that are of relevance and value to them. Two community-based projects conducted on the islands of Hoy, UK and Peleliu, Republic of Palau provide case studies of how such an approach may be delivered with beneficial results to communities and the academy in different post-conflict, political, social and geographical climates. Through these examples this thesis showcases a flexible, integrated methodology for effective, engaging and community-accessible characterisation of challenging WWII archaeological landscapes. It offers new insights into island experiences of WWII and therefore into our wider understanding of the most indiscriminate, material-driven conflict that humanity has witnessed. In design, delivery and reporting this research also offers a response to some of the complex social issues associated with war heritage, fostering a culture of reconciliatory respect between dissonant groups.
AVAILABLE TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD USING THE FILE LINK ABOVE OR COPY THIS URL:
https://abdn.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/delivery/44ABE_INST:44ABE_VU1/12152418140005941
Commissioned Reports by Gavin J Lindsay
As a result of the battle fought in 1944, the island of Peleliu is now host to one of the best preserved and least disturbed WWII battlefield landscapes of the Pacific Theatre of Operations; in recognition of this it has been designated a US Historic Landmark since 1984. In November 2014 the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen (UoA), UK was awarded a contract by the Peleliu War Historical Society Inc. (PWHS), a United States of America 501(c) 3 organisation, to undertake a combined scheme of archaeological field and archive based research on selected areas within the Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark. The grant that funded this work was awarded to PWHS by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program (Grant agreement no: GA-2287-13-018).
PAS’14 recorded a total of 260 individual or clustered archaeological sites and artefacts with 274 individual coordinate points captured relating to the individual features or concentrations that form elements of these sites/assemblages.
This report represents the principal output of the PWHS contract and is intended to offer a summary of the research activities that have been undertaken as part of the project. Through the interpretation of the data gathered from these activities, this document also seeks to offer new and perhaps alternative perspectives on the Battle of Peleliu as well as a series of reflective recommendations to complement future initiatives supporting the long term sustainable preservation and interpretation of Peleliu’s unique WWII battlefield.
This development document represents the principal output of the Legacies of Conflict Project and intends to present a summary of the activities and initiatives that have been implemented over the past year to address the three aims detailed above. Through the interpretation of the results from these activities, this document also offers a series of recommendations to support and guide future initiatives and funding applications for the long term sustainable preservation and interpretation of Hoy’s unmatched WWII heritage.
This report presents the results of a nine-day survey of the Peleliu battlefield that took place in December 2010. The survey focused on areas previously documented by Denfeld in 1981 to see what sites still survived and on those areas thought most likely to have a high density of undiscovered sites. In all the survey documented we 285 WWII sites, 200 of which were previously unrecorded by archaeologists.
The team members were continually amazed by the quantity and quality of the historic archaeological record on Peleliu which easily deserves its reputation as the best preserved WWII battlefield remaining in the Pacific Theatre.
Island of Hoy Newsletter Articles by Gavin J Lindsay
For readers already familiar with the subject, Rome's Caledonian Corridor offers something different as it steps away from the more familiar narratives, leaves behind many of the assumptions that underlie traditional interpretations, and presents the evidence in a new light.
Appropriately for a publication from The Library of Innerpeffray (Scotland's oldest lending library) this booklet also re-engages with a variety of classical sources and Latin terminology, bringing a refreshing reconnection to the ancient Roman world - all in just 32 pocket-sized pages!
Available to purchase from: https://innerpeffraylibrary.co.uk/
The sites that feature in the Wartime Orkney Leaflet series have been carefully selected for their visibility from public roads, paths or ferries, making them an ideal companion for any visitors or residents interested in finding out more about Orkney's rich wartime heritage.
This chapter offers a sense of the atmosphere, pace and intensity of events that created such a poignant archaeological record whilst bringing the reader closer to individuals on both sides of the conflict, their ordeals and their experiences as they fought and died over a small Pacific island far from home.
This thesis presents a community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to investigating the material legacy of recent conflict on small islands. It considers this legacy as a multicultural, multiple-community archaeology that exists within a post-conflict environment of ongoing social recovery and reconciliation. It argues that research in such a setting should therefore be conducted in partnership with members of stake-holding communities with priority given to investigative outputs that are of relevance and value to them. Two community-based projects conducted on the islands of Hoy, UK and Peleliu, Republic of Palau provide case studies of how such an approach may be delivered with beneficial results to communities and the academy in different post-conflict, political, social and geographical climates. Through these examples this thesis showcases a flexible, integrated methodology for effective, engaging and community-accessible characterisation of challenging WWII archaeological landscapes. It offers new insights into island experiences of WWII and therefore into our wider understanding of the most indiscriminate, material-driven conflict that humanity has witnessed. In design, delivery and reporting this research also offers a response to some of the complex social issues associated with war heritage, fostering a culture of reconciliatory respect between dissonant groups.
AVAILABLE TO VIEW AND DOWNLOAD USING THE FILE LINK ABOVE OR COPY THIS URL:
https://abdn.alma.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/delivery/44ABE_INST:44ABE_VU1/12152418140005941
As a result of the battle fought in 1944, the island of Peleliu is now host to one of the best preserved and least disturbed WWII battlefield landscapes of the Pacific Theatre of Operations; in recognition of this it has been designated a US Historic Landmark since 1984. In November 2014 the Department of Archaeology at the University of Aberdeen (UoA), UK was awarded a contract by the Peleliu War Historical Society Inc. (PWHS), a United States of America 501(c) 3 organisation, to undertake a combined scheme of archaeological field and archive based research on selected areas within the Peleliu Battlefield National Historic Landmark. The grant that funded this work was awarded to PWHS by the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program (Grant agreement no: GA-2287-13-018).
PAS’14 recorded a total of 260 individual or clustered archaeological sites and artefacts with 274 individual coordinate points captured relating to the individual features or concentrations that form elements of these sites/assemblages.
This report represents the principal output of the PWHS contract and is intended to offer a summary of the research activities that have been undertaken as part of the project. Through the interpretation of the data gathered from these activities, this document also seeks to offer new and perhaps alternative perspectives on the Battle of Peleliu as well as a series of reflective recommendations to complement future initiatives supporting the long term sustainable preservation and interpretation of Peleliu’s unique WWII battlefield.
This development document represents the principal output of the Legacies of Conflict Project and intends to present a summary of the activities and initiatives that have been implemented over the past year to address the three aims detailed above. Through the interpretation of the results from these activities, this document also offers a series of recommendations to support and guide future initiatives and funding applications for the long term sustainable preservation and interpretation of Hoy’s unmatched WWII heritage.
This report presents the results of a nine-day survey of the Peleliu battlefield that took place in December 2010. The survey focused on areas previously documented by Denfeld in 1981 to see what sites still survived and on those areas thought most likely to have a high density of undiscovered sites. In all the survey documented we 285 WWII sites, 200 of which were previously unrecorded by archaeologists.
The team members were continually amazed by the quantity and quality of the historic archaeological record on Peleliu which easily deserves its reputation as the best preserved WWII battlefield remaining in the Pacific Theatre.