The use of historical aerial photographs in reconstructing the Eliáš II penal labour camp (1950–1959) in the Jáchymov (Joachimsthal) uranium mining area (Czech Republic)

Abstract

This study presents the methods used to process post-World War Two Czechoslovak military photographs of the Jáchy-mov ( Joachimsthal) restricted uranium mining area from the 1950s and create orthophoto maps. Using the example of thepenal labour camp Eliáš II (1950–1959), the possibilities for a detailed reconstruction of one component of the uraniumcampscape are demonstrated. Stereoscopy provides a third dimension to aerial images, allowing objects no longer extant tobe three-dimensionally visualised and fully reconstructed. Archival sources and oral testimonies are utilised for the inter-pretation of aerial images, and the results are checked by archaeological research.