Around one million years ago, at the centre of the Bohemian Massif, an ancient river first encountered the rigid sandstone of Letná, setting the stage for the emergence of medieval Prague. The city has not only been shaped by its geological foundations but has also continually drawn the attention of natural scientists. In the early 19th century, Joachim Barrande meticulously charted Prague’s Ordovician strata and the extravagant organisms preserved in its rock, contributing to the foundation of the discipline of modern palaeontology.

Last year, we retraced Barrande’s path through Prague’s Prokop Valley, following his maps, drawings and diaries. This summer, we widen the frame to the broader territory now known as the Barrandien. Guided by local scientists, we will undertake dedicated fieldwork journeys through this ancient morphological rift. We will search for built and unbuilt moments that disrupt its singular geological direction: interruptions in the ancient flows of rock, water and culture.

Building on the networks we formed around Barrande’s landscape, we will again be joined by a multidisciplinary team of partners and guests who will support participants in analogue and digital drawing, the interpretation of specialist data, GIS and model-making. Together, we will develop new translations of the interruptions encountered in situ.