High-resolution digital elevation models, often derived from airborne lidar, are rapidly gaining importance in both archaeology and geomorphology, in particular where these two disciplines overlap in their interest in anthropogenic changes to the relief of the earth surface (“archaeogeomorphology”). Inter-group and inter-state conflict are one aspect of human behaviour which commonly causes such relief changes. Conflict archaeology and conflict geomorphology, which are both young sub-disciplines within their scientific fields, have until now only touched upon a small part of the wide range of issues which they can encompass. While conflict archaeology has for a long time been almost synonymous with battlefield archaeology, the few papers explicitly discussing conflict geomorphology are mainly concerned with the impact of bombing on soil geomorphology. The application of high-resolution digital elevation models in investigating past conflicts can and should, however, encompass all geomorphological traces of conflict. These include defensive structures such as earthworks, primary and secondary traces of warfare itself (e.g. bomb craters and rubble mountains), conflict-related traces associated with military training and weapons testing facilities as well as, potentially, traces of conflict sustenance (e.g. conflict-related mining and infrastructure). Examples highlight the potential of high-resolution digital elevation models for the detection, mapping and quantification of conflict-related relief changes and thus for the understanding of conflicts. As suitable data are becoming increasingly available, the study of prehistoric and historic conflicts will benefit across the discipline boundaries between archaeology and geomorphology. In the field of heritage management, the detection, visualisation and protection at landscape-scale of what is often seen as “dark” heritage is expected to gain importance. •Geomorphological traces of past conflicts are widespread features.•Their recognition is facilitated by high-resolution digital elevation models.•An overview of common conflict-related archaeogeomorphological features is given.