International collaboration between Australian, New
Zealand and Turkish experts has produced the first
extensive archaeological and historical survey of the
Gallipoli battlefield, with findings published by
Cambridge University Press.
The Minister for Veterans’ Affairs and Minister Assisting the Prime
Minister for the Centenary of ANZAC, Dan Tehan, today
launched the book, Anzac Battlefield: A Gallipoli
Landscape of War and Memory.
The book is the product of the Joint Historical
Archaeological Survey project, which has seen a team
carry out annual fieldwork in Gallipoli between 2010 and
2014.
“Commencing in 2005, this trilateral study has
brought together expert archaeologists and historians
from Australia, New Zealand and Turkey to identify sites
of historical significance from the 1915 Gallipoli
campaign,” Mr Tehan said.
“Despite its historical importance, the area has
never been studied in detail through modern
archaeological survey methods. This book is the result
of a powerful inter-disciplinary collaboration which
reveals insights from both sides of the battlefield.
“The survey mapped some 20 kilometres of remnant
trench-lines around the Anzac area of the peninsula.
Artefacts found included jam tins, water bottles,
bullets, bayonets and German-manufactured barbed wire.
“These items may seem innocuous, but they help paint
a detailed picture of people’s experiences at Gallipoli
over 100 years ago.
“The book tells of differences between supplies for
soldiers on the front line, with Turkish soldiers
supplied by a camp kitchen serving hot food, while the
ANZACs survived mainly on tinned food. It also tells the
story of the construction and maintenance of the
surveyed trench system and the construction of the
post-conflict commemorative landscape.”
Fieldwork included using equipment such as ground
penetrating radar, which can see eight metres into the
earth, and differential global positioning system
technology, to survey the battlefield. All artefacts
were recorded and entrusted to the Turkish Naval Museum
at Canakkale.
“It is hoped that this book will provide a
significant contribution to the growing amount of
battlefield archaeology based on what is undoubtedly one
of the largest surviving above-ground trench systems
from the First World War,” Mr Tehan said.
“I would extend a special thanks to the University of
Melbourne, the Turkish and New Zealand Governments, and
Canakkale University, for their ongoing support and
commitment to this.”
Following the launch, the Department of Veterans’
Affairs will distribute copies of the book to public,
university and TAFE libraries across Australia to ensure
the book is easily accessible to members of the public.
The book will also be available for purchase online and
in bookstores.
