Psychoarchaeology of the Invisible and Unseen was initiated during a two-week summer fellowship at Raketenstation Hombroich in Neuss, Germany, a former NATO Nike missile launching base.

 

Raketenstation Hombroich initially presents visitors with a disorienting landscape of bunkers and berms, punctuated by new and old monuments, and surrounded by agricultural land.

 

Two related former NATO sites nearby were identified: the former Integrated Fire Control area for the missile base, and the former Grevenbroich Barracks. Fieldwork at these sites and oral history gathering proceeded simultaneously with archival research.

 

Potential sites within Raketenstation for presenting the psychoarchaeological analysis were investigated.

 

After confirming that at least one of the sites was visible from an elevated perspective atop the existing earthworks, originally constructed to protect the missiles from attack, the intervention site was chosen.