Matériel culture encompasses the material remains of conflict, from buildings and monuments to artefacts and militia, as well as human remains. This collection of essays, from an international range of contributors, illustrates the diversity in this material record, highlights the difficulties and challenges in preserving, presenting and interpreting it, and above all demonstrates the significant role matériel culture can play in contemporary society.

Among the many studies are:

* the 'culture of shells'

* the archaeology of nuclear testing grounds

* Cambodia's 'killing fields'

* the Berlin Wall

* and the biography of a medal

*the reappearance of Argentina's 'disappeared'

*World War II concentration camps.