Rock art Conservation and Tourism in Iringa Region, Tanzania

Abstract

Much of the archaeological research in Tanzania over the last three decades has focused on sites that have yielded early hominin fossils and the resulting data has been analysed and discussed with the goal of generating knowledge about hominins bio-cultural evolution. Previous research focused on monumental, built heritage sites along the coast of the Indian Ocean and the interregional trade networks that existed from 1000 to 1500 A.D located along the coast of the Tanzania. This regional research prioritization in Tanzania and bias has resulted in the marginalization of some geographical regions in Tanzania from a research perspective and a resultant lack of understanding of important sites in the interior archaeological sites. Our research shifts attention from the famously well researched sites to the less investigated sites in the interior of Tanzania. We have noted that many of these sites currently face many natural and anthropogenic threats. Thus, we propose a number of sustainable management and conservation strategies to mitigate threats to these non-renewable heritage resources of Iringa Region, particularly the rock art sites. We highlight the roles of different stakeholders including the Government of Tanzania in the conservation and management of the country’s patrimonies.