Linear projects such as the A4 Kassel–Dresden–Görlitz, the A20 Baltic Sea Highway, the B6n, the NEL pipeline, and the Southern Ethylene Pipeline have kept archaeologists in Germany very busy, especially since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. There is no end in sight; on the contrary, the energy transition in particular is accompanied by numerous additional route constructions and planning projects, such as SüdLink, SüdOstLink, and A-Nord/Ultranet. Looking back over three decades of route archaeology, what have we learned in terms of methodology and structure? What are we learning from the ongoing planning processes? What does this imply for the future? The conference aims to compile the overarching insights gained by planners and investors, specialized firms, historic preservation authorities, and researchers.
Schedule:
8:45 a.m. Conference begins
Panel Discussion I
DGUF Executive Board: Introduction.
Dr. Harald Stäuble: 30 Years of Large-Scale Linear Projects at the LfA Saxony (1995–2025).
Dr. Stefanie Berg (BLfD, Munich): Experiences with Linear Projects in Bavaria Over the Past 25 Years.
Dr. Jörg Bofinger & Marco Schrickel, M.A. (LfD Baden-Württemberg): Linear Projects in Baden-Württemberg - Opportunities and Risks for State Archaeology in Southwest Germany.
Dr. Ralf Keller & Sascha Schmidt, M.A. (Fodilus GmbH, Rottenburg-Wurmlingen): Archaeology in Step with the Line Construction Site- Experiences from 6 Years of Route Archaeology in Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria.
Dr. Susanne Friederich (LAD Saxony-Anhalt): Thousands of Kilometers of Archaeology in Saxony-Anhalt.
Alissa Foltin (Jacobs GmbH / Transnet BW) & Phoebe Zabel (SWA, Göttingen): The SuedLink Route Project - An Interim Assessment from Southern Lower Saxony.
Dr. Gabor Viragos & Gergő A. Juhász (Universal Heritage Platform Nonprofit Ltd., Budapest): Linear Projects in Hungary - Experiences, Challenges, and Future Prospects from an Archaeological Perspective.
Anna Anzenberger, M.Sc. (Anzenberger & Leicht Archaeological Office GbR, Furth), Falk Näth, M.A. (denkmal3D GmbH & Co. KG, Vechta), & Stephan Winkler, M.A. (Winkler Archaeological Consulting KG, Münster): Forgive and Forget 2.0: Why We Still Get Tendering Wrong in Archaeology.
Dr. Jan Weinig (Arch Pro Beratungsgesellschaft mbH, Ingolstadt): State Heritage Preservation and Private-Sector Archaeology - Geographic Information Systems and Standardization: A Status Quo?
12:30–1:30 p.m. Lunch Break
Panel Discussion II
PD Dr. Frank Siegmund, MCIfA (DGUF): The Shortage of Skilled Workers in Archaeology: Current Status and Prospects.
Dr. Jan Schneider, MCIfA (SPAU GmbH, Münzenberg): Beyond the Excavation: New Tasks for Specialized Archaeological Firms.
Sascha Piffko, M.A., MCIfA (SPAU GmbH, Münzenberg): Megaprojects: Dream or Nightmare?
Sarah Wolff, M.A., MCIfA (ADW, Hardheim / infra jv): With a Little Help from My Friends: The Shortage of Skilled Workers and Structural Change in Archaeological Firms in the Context of Large-Scale Linear Projects.
Teresa Losert, MA (Pro Arch Prospektion und Archäologie GmbH, Ingolstadt): “Working with professionals for a change” – major projects and their impact on an industry.
Jessica Meyer, M.A., Dipl. Geogr., Burkart Ullrich (Eastern Atlas GmbH) & Katharina Schmeiduch, M.A. (AiMV GmbH, Neubukow): Planning certainty in route construction – findings from the comparison of geophysical surveys with archaeological excavations on the OST-6-1 route, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
Anna Anzenberger, M.Sc. (Anzenberger & Leicht Archaeological Office GbR, Furth) & Gergő A. Juhász (Universal Heritage Platform Nonprofit Ltd., Budapest): Planning certainty in infrastructure projects: data, methods and application in project preparation.
Dipl.-Geogr. Britta Kopecky-Hermanns (Office for Soil Science and Geoarchaeology, Aystetten) & Dr Christian Tinapp: Geoarchaeological monitoring of linear infrastructure projects. Interim assessment of 20 years of practical geoarchaeology: opportunities and benefits of interdisciplinary collaboration for the conservation of archaeological heritage.
Dr Holger Hitgen (TenneT TSO GmbH) & Dr Jürgen Obmann (BLfD, Munich): Fundamentals for the implementation of archaeological conservation measures in the SüdOstLink underground cable project in Bavaria.
Dr Jörg Bofinger & Dr René Wollenweber (LfD Baden-Württemberg): Gas pipelines and long-distance transport routes – a comparison of major infrastructure projects.
Gunhilt Merker (Atlas Titan GmbH) & Sebastian Tegge (Cteam Engineering GmbH): Making archaeology visible in project planning.
5.45 pm: End of the conference
