ABSTRACT
Fear was probably the single most important characteristic of the Cold War. It drove nations to unprecedented spending on defence, fuelled ideological battles and, for the first time in human history, threatened the very existence of our planet. As much as it was a placeless war, its effects are now everywhere. We, in the historical sciences and preservation community, are just beginning to review and assess these effects on material culture. Examination of the remains from atomic weapons tests provides a stark contrast between science and engineering capabilities and cultural reaction to the threat of nuclear annihilation.
