How to research, present, and commemorate Holocaust Victims in an ethical, innovative, and engaging way?

Context

The Landscape Archive project is rooted in the complex history of Holocaust memory in Poland and Central and Eastern Europe. The Holocaust is often associated with extermination camps such as Auschwitz and Treblinka, yet a significant number of Jewish victims were murdered outside the camps—in forests, fields, and along roadsides. These sites, mostly forgotten and unmarked, form an essential yet overlooked aspect of Holocaust remembrance.

The project responds to the historical process in which many of these mass and individual graves were ignored for decades due to post-war political, social, and cultural factors. Under communist rule, Jewish history was often marginalized or silenced, and many sites of Jewish persecution were either left unmarked or repurposed. Over time, attitudes towards Holocaust memory have evolved in Poland, influenced by historical research, survivor testimonies, and advocacy efforts.

The Zapomniane Foundation plays a critical role in revisiting these sites, marking them, and ensuring that their historical and ethical significance is recognized and preserved. Because many of these sites are unmarked burial places, they hold sacred and ethical importance. Jewish religious law (Halakha) prohibits excavation or physical disturbance of these resting places, necessitating non-invasive research techniques such as geolocation mapping, aerial photography, and ground-penetrating radar. The project emphasizes that these landscapes should be recognized as historical sites and protected from destruction or oblivion.

The project focuses on the landscape itself as a witness to — and an archive of — past atrocities. Unlike traditional memorials that are static and structured, the Landscape Archive exhibition highlights how natural and cultural landscapes store traces of history, from physical evidence in the soil to oral histories and archival records.

The project is a collaborative effort involving:

  • The Zapomniane Foundation, which specializes in locating and documenting unmarked Jewish burial sites.
  • The exhibition team: curator, Dr. Aleksandra Janus, photographer and researcher, Aleksander Schwarz, researchers: Agnieszka Nieradko, Dr. Szymon Lenarczyk, and Dr. Sebastian Różycki.
  • Local communities, who provide valuable oral histories, participate in commemorative efforts and help integrate these memory sites into broader historical awareness.
  • Diplomatic institutions: Polish Institute in Brussels, the Mission of Norway to the EU,
  • Belgian Jewish organisations: Jewish Secular Community Center in Brussels (CCLJ), CEJI – A Jewish Contribution to an Inclusive Europe.
  • The Urban Memory Foundation, which focuses on public history and memory studies.

Highlights 

Ethical and Non-Invasive Research Methods. One of the project’s most significant contributions is its commitment to conducting research in full compliance with Jewish religious law (Halakha). Contrary to traditional archeology, which would excavate burial sites, the project employs non-invasive methods.

Discovery and Documentation of Forgotten Burial Sites. To date, the Zapomniane Foundation has located approximately 300 unmarked burial sites of Holocaust victims across Poland. Of these, 100 have been marked, and more than a dozen have been permanently commemorated.

Intersection of Art and Historical Research. Unlike traditional academic projects, Landscape Archive blends historical documentation with artistic interpretation through photography, documentary films, and exhibition aesthetics, making memory more accessible to diverse audiences.

Creating a New Model for Holocaust Commemoration. Rather than erecting static monuments, Landscape Archive encourages an interactive and research-driven form of remembrance that engages with local communities. The Zapomniane Foundation developed a special wooden marker, a wooden matzevah, which communicates the nature of a site to both Jews and non-Jews (inscriptions in Polish and the use of Jewish symbols).

Respect for the natural environment. The intervention into the landscape — usually in places of nature like forests or fields — happens respectfully not only towards the victims, but also the natural environment. The Zapomniane Foundation uses natural materials (such as wood) to produce and install the markers (wooden matzevot). When preparing more permanent memorials, the team follows the same principle: the use of natural materials (stone), introducing landscape architecture (plants that match the local ecosystem) and upcycling the existing structures (eg, older commemorative gestures).

Public diplomacy. The exhibit was shown for the first time outside of Poland, presenting another lesser-known aspect of the Holocaust to the audiences in Western Europe. The project gained endorsement of several institutions in Poland and Belgium and was included in the program of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the EU 2025.

Challenges

Some of the primary challenges faced by the project include:

  • Identifying burial sites without excavation, as required by Jewish religious law.
  • Overcoming historical neglect, as many sites have been lost to urbanization or natural overgrowth.
  • Balancing historical memory with environmental preservation, ensuring that the natural landscape remains undisturbed while also being properly documented and marked.
  • Engaging local communities and including vernacular knowledge, particularly in areas where Holocaust memory has been marginalized.

Solutions

To address these challenges, the project:

  • Uses state-of-the-art technology (such as georadar, LiDAR, and aerial photography) to document burial sites without disturbing the ground.
  • The project applies non-invasive research methods developed and practiced by the Zapomniane Foundation that fully comply with Halakha (Jewish religious law), ensuring that burial sites remain undisturbed.
  • Engages artists and photographers to translate research into visually impactful exhibits, making memory accessible beyond academic circles.
  • Collaborates with international institutions, expanding the project’s reach and fostering dialogue between Polish, Jewish, and global audiences.
  • Develops new educational models, using virtual mapping and interactive exhibits to teach younger generations about Holocaust memory and ethics.

Description 

The exhibit was available in two locations in Brussels, Belgium, from January 16, 2025, till February 28, 2025: at the Jewish Secular Community Center (CCLJ – in French) and the Norway House (in English). It presented the findings of research conducted by the Zapomniane Foundation, an organization dedicated to locating and identifying unmarked burial sites of Holocaust victims in Poland while adhering to Jewish religious law (Halakha). The Foundation employed modern technological methods and non-invasive research techniques, allowing for the identification of these burial sites without disturbing them in the way traditional archaeology typically would.

To date, the Zapomniane Foundation has located approximately 300 previously unidentified burial sites across Poland, marked 100 of them, and permanently memorialized several dozen. The exhibition showcases a selection of these sites through photographs and a detailed map with geolocation coordinates pinpointing the burial areas. By displaying images of these sites, the exhibition draws attention to seemingly invisible places of memory in the Polish landscape, urging visitors to recognize and acknowledge these forgotten histories.

The exhibition included high-resolution analog photography by Aleksander Schwarz, which captures the essence of unmarked burial sites. What is more, geolocated mapping that visually reconstructs the precise locations of mass and individual graves. Additionally, exhibition installations challenged the notion of “invisible” memory by showcasing landscapes as active witnesses of history.

Lessons Learned 

The project provides a blueprint for future initiatives on Holocaust memory and unmarked burial sites.

  • Innovative, non-invasive methodologies can serve as models for ethical historical research in other contexts.
  • Collaboration between researchers, artists, and communities enhances both historical accuracy and emotional engagement.
  • International partnerships strengthen the global dialogue on Holocaust remembrance, ensuring that forgotten histories are recognized beyond national borders.

By combining cutting-edge research with artistic and community-based approaches, the Landscape Archive project sets a new standard for ethical and meaningful Holocaust commemoration.

The project has received strong support from academic, cultural, and community organizations, with positive engagement from local and international stakeholders. Local communities have shown increasing interest in reclaiming forgotten histories, often contributing oral histories or archival materials. Academics and researchers recognize the project as a pioneering example of how historical research and digital humanities can work together. Descendants of Holocaust victims have expressed appreciation, seeing the project as an essential step toward recognizing and preserving family histories. The Landscape Archive project offers a new model for ethical Holocaust research, presentation, and commemoration, demonstrating that memory work can be both respectful and innovative.

More info

https://multimemo.difficultheritage.eu/en/blog/event/landscape-archive-exhibition/

La Maison de la Culture Juive article: link

Financing

 

Photos – Edouard Gillès / Meltingprod