Perfectly Preserved WW1 German Trenches Unearthed in Excavation

[derspiess]

Are there any more pics available anywhere else on this?  They said they found soldiers sitting upright on benches & some other interesting stuff.

My guess is that all the wood parts of the structure would deteriorate pretty rapidly when exposed to the elements, and I'm not sure how easily you can preserve wood that permeated with soil.  I would think it might be better to rebuild a section of trench that can be maintained/preserved in a national park or other less valuable land (do they have anything like this in France or Belgium?) than to try to keep this one.

Also, I loved the comments on how they should preserve the trench and force politicians to walk through it, as though politicians *never* weigh the human cost of going to war.

[Admiral Yi]

Also, I loved the comments on how they should preserve the trench and force politicians to walk through it, as though politicians *never* weigh the human cost of going to war.

I think it's odder to think that a politician is going to have the human cost of war driven home by walking through a hole in the ground.

[derspiess]

Also, I loved the comments on how they should preserve the trench and force politicians to walk through it, as though politicians *never* weigh the human cost of going to war.

I think it's odder to think that a politician is going to have the human cost of war driven home by walking through a hole in the ground.

That, too. 

[Crazy_Ivan80]

Are there any more pics available anywhere else on this?  They said they found soldiers sitting upright on benches & some other interesting stuff.

My guess is that all the wood parts of the structure would deteriorate pretty rapidly when exposed to the elements, and I'm not sure how easily you can preserve wood that permeated with soil.  I would think it might be better to rebuild a section of trench that can be maintained/preserved in a national park or other less valuable land (do they have anything like this in France or Belgium?) than to try to keep this one.

Also, I loved the comments on how they should preserve the trench and force politicians to walk through it, as though politicians *never* weigh the human cost of going to war.

The wood wil keep a while, but not too long.

There's the "Dodengang" in Diksmuide, that's a reconstructed/maintained trenchsystem, there's another section somewhere near Ieper (in the vicinity of what use to be Flanders Language Valley) and I'm aware that there are a few places that haven't been nivellated after the war, meaning that all the bombcraters are still there.

[Valmy]

I think it's odder to think that a politician is going to have the human cost of war driven home by walking through a hole in the ground.

THIS is how horrible war was 100 years ago!  Think about that next time you vote to fight a war 100 years in the past Senator.

[The Brain]

Verdun is the place to go for craters.

[Syt]

Verdun is the place to go for craters.

Better than the moon?

[Maladict]

My guess is that all the wood parts of the structure would deteriorate pretty rapidly when exposed to the elements, and I'm not sure how easily you can preserve wood that permeated with soil.

It takes some time and resources but the wood can be treated for preservation. They'll need to enclose the area for protection, though, and I doubt it would be able to stand the strain of tourism. 

I would think it might be better to rebuild a section of trench that can be maintained/preserved in a national park or other less valuable land (do they have anything like this in France or Belgium?) than to try to keep this one.

I don't get this. You finally get to have a unique piece of history, but you'd rather have a reconstructed version because it's more convenient? 

[The Brain]

Verdun is the place to go for craters.

Better than the moon?

Oh yes. Minus the lack of cheese.