In times of increasing crises and conflicts, this study aims to highlight sites of democratic history and moments of hope for alternative futures. The Free Republic of Wendland, a protest village established in May 1980 by farmers and local residents near Gorleben, Lower Saxony, serves as the focus of this archaeological investigation. Beyond its role as a site of resistance against a proposed nuclear waste repository, the village embodied prefigurative politics, showcasing alternative ways of living, renewable energy use, and grassroots democracy in action.

To explore this late 20th-century protest site, the project employs a multi-source approach. Findings from archaeological fieldwork, material culture analysis, oral history, and historical photographs are interwoven to create a comprehensive narrative. By involving former participants of the protest village in the research process, the research opens up new avenues for democratizing knowledge production. The study reconstructs daily life, infrastructure, and social dynamics within the village and its lasting impact on the region Wendland. This archaeological intervention not only sheds light on the enduring heritage of protest culture but also addresses the unresolved issue of managing and disposing of high-level radioactive waste from nuclear power plants. It reaffirms the significance of the Free Republic of Wendland as a cultural heritage site of hope and alternative futures.

Dézsi, Attila: Archäologie der Republik Freies Wendland. Zu einer kritischen Archäologie der Zeitgeschichte, Leiden 2025.