Researching the subterranean landscapes of the First World War

This site is a showcase for the discipline of modern conflict archaeology and my work within this burgeoning field. The pages on the site will take you to selected academic writing as well as details of my PhD research, hopefully allowing my work to find a wider audience. You can also find information on my fieldwork and published articles. On the MCA links page there are links to individuals and organisations involved in furthering the understanding of modern conflict. I hope you find it interesting and useful. You can follow me on Twitter @mgpleonard.

Modern conflict archaeology examines the material culture of twentieth and twenty-first century warfare, and while my research has focused on the human engagement with the subterranean landscapes of the Western Front, I am also interested in many other aspects of the First World War. My new book, Poppyganda, examines the social life of the remembrance poppy, exploring its biography and asking what the future holds for this intensely evocative object. You can read an extract from the Introduction by clicking on the image below.