Forensic Cartographies of Atrocity: Soviet Investigative Maps as Spatial Evidence in Holocaust Studies

This article examines cartographic materials produced by the Soviet Extraordinary State Commission during the investigation of Nazi crimes in the former Soviet Union and beyond. While such maps, plans, and drawings have frequently been cited as illustrative appendices to investigative reports or postwar legal proceedings, they have rarely been analyzed as investigative artefacts in their own right. Situating these materials within the broader forensic and spatial turn in Holocaust studies, the article argues that, when examined through an archaeological perspective, Soviet investigative cartography reflects specific evidentiary priorities and institutional logic. Drawing on selected case studies, including Slavuta, it demonstrates that these maps preserve spatial knowledge that can assist in the localization and verification of Holocaust-related burial sites. By analyzing scale, orientation, spatial representation, and subsequent reproduction, the article highlights their methodological significance and suggests that Soviet investigative cartography may function not only as historical documentation but also as a predictive tool in contemporary research.