Doctoral research student

Jelena Steigerwald (Germany, 1979)

M.A. in History, Pre- and Protohistory and Anthropogeography

jsteigerwald@gshdl.uni-kiel.de

Historical Places of Memory within the German-Danish Borderland in the 19th and 20th Centuries.

Sites of memory are commonly seen as an expression of national identities in the process of nation building. In particular, creations of the past are a crucial factor for the creation of identities. As the perception of the past is highly influenced by historical remains, authentic historical remains or supposed authentic remains are essential. Authenticity serves as a proof and with the creation of authenticity communities are able to show the past in the light which they prefer. Therefore, historical memory places can be used to convey values, the legitimisation and establishment of ideas and regional or national narratives. Especially within borderlands, where different interpretations of history and changing authorities can be observed, this is an interesting process. My PhD thesis concentrates on historical buildings, archaeological remains and the perception of the “authentic” historical landscape. I question the ideas and values of the respective societies who, like the inspectors of antiquities and historical-archaeological societies, are the main actors in the broad field of “history making”. Their perceptions of these reconstructed places will also be investigated.

This analysis focuses on two main issues: the (re-)creation of these sites and their use. The spatial contexts as well as transformation processes of these sites are significant parts of the analysis. Furthermore, the impact of places of memory on the establishment and protection of authorities and the historical transformation processes of these sites of memory and memorial cultures will come under scrutiny.

07/2007
Master’s Degree in History, Pre- and Protohistory and Human Geography at Georg-August University of Goettingen
- Master thesis in History - Topic: Miner’s strikes in Barsinghausen in 1905 and 1912
- Thesis in Pre- and Protohistory - Topic: Documentation of Stone artefacts in bronzeage Syria

04/2002 – 07/2007
Studies in History, Pre- and Protohistory and Human Geography at Georg-August University Goettingen

10/2000 – 02/2002
University Studies in History, Political Science and Philosophy at the University of Braunschweig

08/1999 – 08/2000
European Volunteer Service in Denmark at a youth centre

1990 – 1999
High school in Hanover

10/2009 - 03/2010
Free Lecturer for historical themes at the Wirtschafts- und Sozialakademie Bremen

10/2008 – 09/2009
Scientific trainee at the Historical Museum Bremerhaven

11/2007 – 08/2008
Graduated Assistant at the Georg-Eckert-Institut for International Textbook Research in Braunschweig

07/2007 – 10/2007
Graduated Assistant and Specialist in documentation and measurement in Tell Chuera, Bronze Age City in Syria (University of Frankfurt am Main)

08 - 10/2005 & 07 - 10/2006
Excavation Assistant in Tell Chuera, Bronze Age City in Syria (University of Frankfurt am Main)