trenchesare

Trenchesare is a digital platform and collaborative project devoted to documenting and interpreting historical combat trenches, battlefield features, and related wartime landscapes. Combining geospatial mapping, archival research, and crowdsourced contributions, the project aims to create an accessible, searchable record of trench systems from major conflicts and local engagements.

The platform aggregates historical maps, contemporary aerial imagery, site photographs, excavation reports, and oral histories. Its geospatial interface allows users to view trench networks overlaid on modern maps, compare historical and current land use, and export data for research or educational purposes. Scholarly content, including short articles and bibliographies, complements primary-source materials and provides context for different theaters of conflict.

Trenchesare operates on an open-content model with editorial oversight from an advisory group of historians, archaeologists, and heritage professionals. Contributions from amateurs and local historians are encouraged but subject to verification procedures intended to maintain data quality. The project also partners with museums, universities, and preservation organizations to support field surveys and public outreach.

The initiative has been used for interdisciplinary research in military history, landscape archaeology, and conservation planning, and serves as a resource for educators developing classroom materials. Critiques of the project have focused on the challenges of verifying user-generated data and the ethical considerations of publicizing sensitive or protected sites.