Future Urban Growth and Archaeological Heritage Management: Some Implications for Research Activity in Africa

Abstract

Projected future urban growth in Africa is anticipated to be considerable, although estimates vary as to the overall likely scale of this, its spatial distribution within different countries, and the likely drivers and rates of change. Regardless of these details, urban expansion is likely to pose one of the most significant threats to the archaeological resources of the continent, and appropriate measures are urgently needed to mitigate against wholescale destruction of these without adequate documentation or investigation. This paper reviews the current literature concerning anticipated future growth, rates of change, and most likely spatial location of urban expansion up to c. 2050. The aim in doing so is to highlight the potential scale of this threat to Africa's archaeological and heritage resources managers, and thereby encourage better monitoring of development in urban and peri-urban areas than has been the case hitherto. The paper concludes with some suggested strategies that, if adopted, would help mitigate some of the likely threats to long-term preservation of sites and monuments in urban and peri-urban areas.