Archaeological Resource Management Research Articles

How Semantic Technologies and Spatial Networks Can Enhance Archaeological Resource Management

How Semantic Technologies and Spatial Networks Can Enhance Archaeological Resource Management

Positioning UAE archaeological sites in tourism supply chains

Purpose The purpose of this study is to address the relevance of archaeological heritage in the context of supply chains for the tourism industry. It does so by providing converging ideas on the usefulness of individual sites, not in their strict scientific or latent value but as an enhancer for optimizing cultural production in a wider scenario of aggregate demand.Design/methodology/approach While examples from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) illustrate this reasoning, the underlying principles have a widespread application and point to a need for defragmenting and realigning tangible heritage as a key production factor. Methods used consist of an inductive approach, based on secondary sources and semi-structured interviews.Findings Results indicate that, while archaeological resources remain central to the promotion of cultural tourism in the UAE, suppliers face challenges when incorporating particular sites into consumer-friendly packages.Practical implications The study contributes to the identification of common risks and opportunities for archaeological resource management in the development of UAE tourism products.Originality/value This represents an original angle, given the focus on the specific regional, cooperative added value of archaeological resources and the need for optimizing them in a functional supply chain.

Unlocking Potential: The Integrative Role of Archaeological Records in Oman's Archaeological Tourism Sustainability

Purpose: This paper aims to assess the current utilization of archaeological records in the management of archaeological tourism in the Sultanate of Oman.
 
 Implications of research: It investigates how these records synergistically contribute to the sustainability of archaeological tourism and identifies potential benefits from their integration into the tourism planning process.
 
 Method: Employing a descriptive analytical approach, this exploratory study examines the relationship between archaeological records and archaeological tourism in Oman, utilizing both contemporary and historical data from various sources, including existing archaeological records and input from heritage and tourism stakeholders.
 
 Findings: Findings reveal that Omani archaeological tourism is in its nascent stages, with government initiatives striving to align the archaeology and tourism sectors. The study underscores the significance of archaeological records in optimizing tourism through enhanced planning, criteria, and information exchange. It emphasizes their potential to strengthen collaboration between archaeological resource management and tourism in Oman.
 
 Results and conclusion: Key recommendations include prioritizing improved dialogue, information exchange, stakeholder collaboration, shared record design, accessibility, revenue allocation, and comprehensive training. These measures aim to forge a harmonious connection between archaeology and tourism, fostering mutual benefit and sustainable heritage preservation.

Pengelolaan Sumberdaya Arkeologi di Situs Pekauman

Pekauman is a village that has a heritage of archeological resources. Relics found in the form of relics in the era before knowing writing. The purpose of this study is to explain the management of archaeological resources in Pekauman Village as a cultural tourism object in Bondowoso Regency. This study uses a descriptive qualitative method that goes through the stages of collecting data from literature, observation, interviews and analyzed using qualitative analysis, contextual analysis, and SWOT analysis. The results of this study obtained an overview of the damage and consequences of damage to cultural heritage objects in the form of human, natural, and weather factors. Cultural heritage objects studied include menhirs, kenong stones, sarcophagi, and dolmens. Stages of treatment by cleaning the object's environment, cleaning mildew and other treatments.

One Hundred Years of Archaeological Work in Jordan

This article deals with major achievements in the field of archaeology and cultural heritage in Jordan since the 19th century, the time when many travelers explored Jordan and Palestine and paid attention to the richness of the Archaeological and historical sites. The Department of Antiquities was established in 1923 to manage the archaeological sites and excavations as well as restoration work in various sites of the country. As well as bylaws of antiquities ere issued in 1934. Since then extensive excavations and surveys took place by foreign expeditions, and later on with participation of local institutions. Archaeological and cultural resource management programs were established in a number of Jordanian universities for training local archaeologists to undertake field research projects in cooperation with international institutions. A national museum (Jordan Museum) as well as several local museums and university museums were established and made accessible for local communities. The Department of Antiquities developed a program entitled (MEGA-Jordan) to inventory and manage archaeology sites at a national level. International research centers were established in Jordan including the American, British, French, German and Spanish, to conduct archaeological work and to accommodate researchers from different parts of the world. Six Jordanian properties were inscribed in the World Heritage List: Petra, Quseir Amra, Um er-Rasas, Wadi Rum, Baptism Site and As-Salt.

Management of Archaeological Resources in Karangturi Village Through the 7 Steps of the Heritage Urban Landscape Approach

Karangturi Village is one of the villages located in Lasem District, Rembang Regency, Central Java Province. This village has a number of potential archaeological resources. Archaeological resources owned include places of worship, residences, production buildings, tombs, and so on. This study aims to determine the management of archaeological resources in Karangturi Village. This study uses qualitative methods with supporting data such as observations and literature studies. The result of this research is a descriptive analysis using Heritage Urban Landscape. The Heritage Urban Landscape approach includes seven approaches, namely (1) Review of City Resources – Natural, Cultural, and Human; (2) Review of Participatory Planning, Stakeholders, and Targets Preservation Actions; (3) Analysis of Cultural Conservation Vulnerability in the Social, Economy and Climate Sector; (4)Integrating Cultural Heritage Values Cities with Vulnerable Status into City Development Framework; (5) Priority Policies, Conservation and Development Actions, and Public Services; (6) Defining Stakeholders with a Management Framework; (7) Developing Coordination Mechanisms and Inter-Stakeholder Activities.

Gestão do patrimônio arqueológico do Museu de Arte Pré-histórica de Mação, Portugal

O artigo explora a gestão dos recursos arqueológicos dos vales dos rios Tejo e Ocreza, em Portugal, a partir das experiências de investigação, comunicação e educação desenvolvidas no Museu de Arte Pré-Histórica e do Sagrado do Vale do Tejo, localizado em Mação, Portugal, com ênfase temporal em anos mais recentes, já no século XXI, quando o museu recebeu esse nome e foi bastante reestruturado. Em um primeiro momento, reflete-se sobre as estratégias e guias teóricos utilizados na operação do museu, para, em seguida, adentrar-se na descrição de experiências de pesquisa, pós-graduação, comunicação e educação. Por fim, se faz um balanço geral, seguido de propostas de caminhos futuros para a gestão de bens patrimoniais, cujo centro é a instituição museológica.

Wringing Hands and Anxious Authority: Archaeological Heritage Management Beyond an Archaeologist’s Ontology

In Canada archaeology sits between colonial and contemporary reconciled notions of heritage, and relationships between the descendant colonial State and Indigenous sovereigns. State-regulated Archaeological Resource Management (ARM) has slowly begun to shift away from archaeologist-centric values, as that management becomes less about preserving the material past, and more about fiduciary State obligations towards Indigenous sovereign rights over this heritage. These changes are also slowly destabilizing the role and authority of archaeologists in ARM: from experts and value makers of archaeological stuff to servicing other societal values within this contested material heritage. These changes have significant implications for how archaeology is understood by Canadian society to “make meaning” of human–material experiences in the past and present. Feeding into both old angsts and new anxieties over archaeological authority and the “rightness” of an archaeological ontology, current discourse invites the question: Is there a place for an informed, reflexive archaeological meaning-making within a resituated heritage conservation regime, and can it contribute to a State/Indigenous Sovereign-based archaeological management? This paper considers archaeology at a time when that practice appears to be moving beyond archaeological sensibilities, and the limits of archaeological ways of knowing are being expanded by other ways of knowing.

Applied capabilities of geodatabases in the archiving and recording of archaeological data- Applied Study in the Archeological Areas of Al – Ula -

هدفت هذه الدراسة إلى تجربة استخدام القدرات التطبيقية لقواعد البيانات الجغرافية في أرشفة وتسجيل البيانات الأثرية، وهو تطبيق نظم المعلومات الجغرافية، كأحد أهم التقنيات المكانية التي تتعامل بكفاءة متميزة مع البيانات والمعلومات والسجلات الأثرية. ونظراً إلى أن الطرائق التقليدية مازالت متبعة في كثير من العلوم المكانية بالمملكة العربية السعودية ومنها علم الآثار خصوصاً في عملية تسجيل وأرشفة سجلات الموارد الأثرية؛ إلا أنه من الضروري تطبيق التقنيات الحديثة في هذا المجال. وتعد عمليات التسجيل والأرشفة عمليات مهمة في حفظ وإدارة الموارد الأثرية ودراستها، إلا أن تخزين بيانات السجلات الأثرية بالطرائق التقليدية يكون أكثر صعوبة، بالإضافة إلى قابليتها للضياع أو التلف مما يجعل كثير من عمليات المعالجة والاستعلام للبيانات أمراً صعباً على الباحثين والمهتمين بعلم الآثار. ولهذا أتت فكرة هذه الدراسة باختبار القدرات لقواعد البيانات الجغرافية للسجلات الخرائطية والبيانات الأثرية، لذا تم في هذه الدراسة تجربة قاعدة بيانات جغرافية مناسبة للسجلات الأثرية، حيث تم تحديد خصائص البيانات اللازمة، والمعايير المتطلبة لإدخال البيانات في القاعدة، ثم تلا ذلك تقويم لأداء وفاعلية هذه القاعدة من خلال اختبار مهامها التنفيذية في الاستعلام والتحليل بما يتفق مع متطلبات المستخدمين والمختصين في الآثار، وذلك من خلال التطبيق واختبار على بعض البيانات والمعلومات الأثرية لمناطق الاثرية بالعلا. وبينت الدراسة أن يمكن الاستفادة من القدرات وإمكانيات التطبيقية غير محدودة للقواعد البيانات الجغرافية لتسهيل مهام المختصين في العمل الأثري في أكثر من جانب ومستوى. وتوصي الدراسة بعدد من التوصيات أهمها: تبني نظم المعلومات الجغرافية في مجال الاستكشاف الأثري، واستخدام قاعدة البيانات الجغرافية لتخزين البيانات الاثرية وارشفتها، وتكثيف الدراسات في مجال تحويل البيانات الأثرية وترميزها لتتناسب مع مفاهيم وإجراءات قواعد البيانات الجغرافية.

HASIL EKSKAVASI SITUS MALANGSARI, BANYUWANGI: “DATA BARU DOLMEN DI JAWA TIMUR”

Generally in Indonesia and especially in Java, until now, in East Java dolmens are known to be found in, which is in Bondowoso and Besuki. Lately, it is known that dolmen are also found in the area of Banyuwangi Regency. One of the monuments from this megalithic tradition found in the area of PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XII Malangsari, Banyuwangi, East Java. Based on information from the local community it is estimated that the Malangsari plantation area is the Dolmen Tomb Site. Physically, construction of the dolmen in this area only has a few interference because it is buried between 50-60 cm and covered by a coffee plantation which owned by PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XII. However, some of the dolmens have been excavated by people looters. They were able to open the dolmen tomb simply by opening a stone without unpacking its construction. Dolmen that was found from the excavation at Petak D 55 Sidomaju Block, Afdeling Mulyosari, Malangsari, are still intact if it is seen physically and from the construction, but both the human remains and artifacts ware not found. It is a proof that this dolmen has been opened before. Nevertheless, Malangsari dolmen is a very interesting object to conduct research, because of its wide distribution area and there has not been done a comprehensive research for this object. In the future, this object is important to investigate, both for the development of archaeological research, as well as for the benefit of archaeological resource management in Indonesia.Di Indonesia pada umumnya dan Jawa khususnya, selama ini diketahui bahwa dolmen banyak ditemukan di Jawa Timur, yaitu di Bondowoso dan Besuki. Akhir-akhir ini diketahui bahwa dolmen ditemukan pula di daerah Kabupaten Banyuwangi. Salah satu monumen dari tradisi megalitik ini ditemukan di kawasan PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XII Malangsari, Banyuwangi, Jawa Timur. Berdasarkan informasi dari masyarakat setempat diperkirakan bahwa kawasan Perkebunan Malangsari merupakan situs kubur dolmen. Secara fisik, konstruksi dolmen – dolmen di kawasan ini hanya sedikit mengalami gangguan karena tertimbun tanah antara 50 – 60 cm dan tertutup kebun kopi milik PT. Perkebunan Nusantara XII. Namun, rupanya sebagian dari dolmen tersebut telah digali oleh masyarakat yang bertujuan mencari harta karun. Mereka mampu membuka kubur dolmen cukup dengan membuka sebuah batu tanpa membongkar konstruksinya. Dolmen temuan hasil ekskavasi di Petak D 55 Blok Sidomaju, Afdeling Mulyosari, Malangsari, secara fisik dan konstruksi masih terlihat utuh, tetapi baik sisa rangka manusia maupun artefak bekal kuburnya tidak ditemukan. Keadaan semacam ini menunjukkan kemungkinan bahwa dolmen ini pernah dibuka. Luasnya areal sebaran serta belum dilakukannya penelitian secara menyeluruh, menjadikan dolmen Malangsari sebagai objek baru yang sangat menarik untuk diteliti lebih lanjut. Kelak di kemudian hari objek baru ini penting untuk dikaji baik bagi perkembangan penelitian arkeologi, maupun untuk kepentingan pengelolaan sumberdaya arkeologi di Indonesia.

Values-Based Management of Archaeological Resources at a Landscape Scale

AbstractPublic agencies at all levels of government and other organizations that manage archaeological resources often face the problem of many undertakings that collectively impact large numbers of individually significant archaeological resources. Such situations arise when an agency is managing a large area, such as a national forest, land management district, park unit, wildlife refuge, or military installation. These situations also may arise in regard to large-scale development projects, such as energy developments, highways, reservoirs, transmission lines, and other major infrastructure projects that cover substantial areas. Over time, the accumulation of impacts from small-scale projects to individual archaeological resources may degrade landscape or regional-scale cultural phenomena. Typically, these impacts are mitigated at the site level without regard to how the impacts to individual resources affect the broader population of resources. Actions to mitigate impacts rarely are designed to do more than avoid resources or ensure some level of data recovery at single sites. Such mitigation activities are incapable of addressing research question at a landscape or regional scale.

Recognizing Geomagnetic Storms in Marine Magnetometer Data: Toward Improved Archaeological Resource Identification Practices

Strong magnetic field perturbations resulting from Earth-directed solar events, collectively referred to as geomagnetic storms, can adversely affect many aspects of marine archaeological survey. The immediate onset of geomagnetic storms and the fast compression of the magnetopause creates a short-duration, high amplitude spike in Earth’s magnetic field that appears similar to the signature of an archaeological anomaly. Aggressive processing, analysis, and comparison of single instrument, total field marine magnetometer survey and observatory datasets collected during geomagnetic storms on days of Kp 5 or greater resulted in no demonstrable ability to isolate and remove the storm sudden onset signature. Of the 34 storms analyzed, 34 possessed onset signatures that were considered to be potentially misleading, resulting in possible aliasing of temporal variation (the storm sudden onset signature) for spatial variation (archaeological anomalies of interest). Based on a 95% confidence level, it is estimated that 89.7 to 100 percent of geomagnetic storms occurring on days of Kp 5 or greater will generate signatures that may be misinterpreted as archaeological sites. Recommendations are made for marine magnetic data collection and processing methods that may adequately account for geomagnetic storms, allowing for improved precision in analytical interpretation and thus improved management of archaeological resources.

Archaeology in the Service of the Tribe: Three Episodes in Twenty-first-Century Tribal Archaeology in the US–Mexico Borderlands

The 1987 publication “Uses of the Past: Archaeology in the Service of the State” offers the inspiration for considering the emerging role of descendent communities in archaeological research and cultural resource management in the American Southwest. Recognizing that interpretations of the past are seldom “value neutral”, we explore the implications and benefits of interpretations of the past when they are “value tribal”. Three episodes in twenty-first-century Tribal Archaeology in Arizona are considered including repatriation of religious objects under state statutes, international repatriation of human remains, and Tribal documentation of traditional cultural properties. We conclude that as federally recognized tribes initiate their own programs in archaeological investigation and assume greater responsibility in the cultural resource management process, new perspectives on the past are coming to light that are of potential benefit to everyone.

Co-Creation of Knowledge by the Hopi Tribe and Archaeologists

AbstractFor two decades, the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office has worked with archaeologists to co-create knowledge about the past and document contemporary values associated with heritage sites. Much of this work has been accomplished within the framework of research mandated by the National Historic Preservation Act and National Environmental Policy Act. Here we describe a case study that illustrates the processes of this community-based participatory research, including research design, implementation of fieldwork, peer review of research findings, and reporting. The case study is a project conducted in 2014 by the Hopi Tribe in partnership with Anthropological Research, LLC, to investigate traditional cultural properties associated with an Arizona Public Service Company transmission line. The Hopi Tribe’s collaborative research with archaeologists provides intellectual benefits for the management of archaeological resources and the humanistic and scientific understanding of the past.

Archaeological Resource Management in Arabia: Managing the Historic Landscape through Geographical Information Systems

The Qatar National Historic Environment Record (QNHER) Project, developed by the University of Birmingham in collaboration with Qatar Museums, has been working in Qatar for five years helping to develop the country’s archaeological resource management. The need to develop a robust system to deal with development control is vital in Arabia, which boasts some of the most rapid and intensive development and construction in the world. Qatar is developing at such a rapid rate that, if left unchecked, it could destroy much of the nation’s heritage, whether it is known or unknown. Legislation cannot be the end of heritage protection but merely the starting point. The QNHER has developed a bespoke software package to manage the historic environment that enables heritage professionals to have control over geographical information system (GIS) functions such as a spatial database, map building, or thematic mapping. The introduction of this software has had a major impact on how Qatar manages its cultural heritage resources and is making significant changes to archaeological resource management in the country. This paper will discuss the approaches that have been taken in Qatar to develop modern systems for archaeological resource management which include the heritage professional in development control and enable them to manage the historic environment.

Bridging the Gaps That Divide

T he US Constitution provides that Native American tribes are sovereign-dependent nations and their interactions with the federal government, including the cession of the tribal lands that formed America, are governed by a complex set of treaties. For decades, federal law and public policies have defined the formal, legal relationship between agencies such as the US Department of Agriculture Forest Service (USDA FS) and federally recognized Indian tribes. However, this formalized partnership has never been an easy one, long strained by misunderstanding, misgivings, missed opportunities, and political expediency. When President William J. Clinton issued Executive Order 13175 (“Consultation and Coordination with Indian Tribal Governments”; since approved and upheld by the two subsequent Administrations) in 1996, could any different outcome be expected? An opportunity to forge a new partnership arose in 2001, when during the revision of the Ouachita and Ozark St. Francis National Forests (hereafter, “Forests”) respective land and resource management plans, the Forests were asked to conduct face-to-face consultations on the Arkansas and Oklahoma homelands of the federally recognized Oklahoma Tribes (Absentee Shawnee, Caddo, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Citizen Potawatomie, Creek, Delaware, Eastern Shawnee, Kaw, Quapaw, Seminole, Shawnee, and Osage, among others; hereafter, “Tribes”). The management of cultural and natural resources is extremely important not only to the Forests but also to many Tribes that were removed from their homelands, making the development of a viable forum permitting both formal and informal dialogues between the USDA FS and the Tribes vital. The first of these consultative meetings, organized in 2002, was given the name “To Bridge A Gap” (TBAG) by Bobby Gonzales, Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act (NAGPRA) coordinator for the Caddo Nation, to signify the differences among the various people, cultures, governments, and participating agencies. The success of the first TBAG meeting led to its rapid expansion to include the entire Southern and Eastern Regions of the USDA FS, all 39 Oklahoma Tribes (and tribes from other states), other government agencies, numerous academic institutions, private industry, and archeological/ engineering consulting firms. Now entering its 14th year (Table 1), the annual TBAG meeting represents an official government-to-government interaction planned and funded by all parties and focused on mutual interests in the management of archaeological, natural, and cultural resources of the Forests. TBAG provides a venue for Tribes to develop bonds of trust and communication and establish practical ways of restoring ecosystems while seeking to benefit all participants. These interactions and opportunities are expressed in the TBAG logo (Figure 1). The ultimate goal of TBAG is to provide a permanent platform with a central setting for Tribes to meet with other stakeholders and interested parties. For Tribes, some of the benefits that immediately began to accrue involved the introduction to federal employees who are mandated to protect and preserve public resources and cultural heritage, including the location and protection of sites related to those Tribes with patrimony interests on federal lands. Other recent positive Tribal outcomes from TBAG include the achievement of National Historic Preservation Act Section 101D2 Status for Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, the granting of special use permits for collection of Forest resources for ceremonial purposes, a discussion of Traditional Cultural Properties and Rock Art studies, and NAGPRA repatriation and reburial issues. Tribal Elders can now more readily provide the Forests guidance in NAGPRA-related repatriations of human remains and funerary objects. In addition, Osage and Caddo Elders meet privately to discuss protocols on repatriation of human remains recovered from federal lands within their joint homelands. The USDA FS may be the biggest beneficiary of the TBAG meetings. USDA FS staff members develop personal relationships with sovereign dependent Nations and individuals who review and consult on specific projects and operations. Locally, the Forests have received Tribal feedback on land exchanges and developed master agreements to improve the consultation process and solicit Tribal input. Regionally, consultations have expanded to include the Daniel Boone National Forest (for the Shawnee), Alabama and Mississippi National Forests (Chickasaw and Creek), and Allegheny National Forest (Delaware). Heritage Resource Technician training programs are provided

Public Lands and Cultural Resource Protection

AbstractArchaeological resource protection remains an important management concern on public lands in the U.S. Southwest and beyond. While legislation and educational programs have contributed to a general improvement in public attitudes toward cultural heritage, archaeological resources on public lands remain vulnerable to a variety of human impacts. We present results of a condition and damage assessment of 96 prominent precontact sites on the Tonto National Forest (TNF) in central Arizona. We summarize field methods and observations and discuss their implications for the management and protection of archaeological resources on the TNF and other public lands. Sites at varying distances from roads were assessed in an effort to identify potential relationships between damage frequency and road proximity. Field results indicate that (1) unauthorized damage occurs more frequently at sites near TNF roads; and (2) economical measures like advisory signage provide potentially effective means of deterring unauthorized damage to sites in higher risk locations. Our findings add to a knowledge base important for understanding patterns of damage and site vulnerability and for developing practical protection strategies in line with public land missions and administrative capabilities.

Archaeological legislation in the Sultanate of Oman

This paper reviews legislation relating to the safeguarding and management of Oman's diverse archaeological resource. It focuses on the National Heritage Protection Law (NHPL), other national legislation and regulations, and international conventions signed by the Omani Government. It also discusses the extent to which these existing legislative tools support the management of the nation's archaeological resource and the socio-economic changes that are taking place in the country. The paper also examines whether the legislation in place is apt for purposes of identification, management, conservation, research and for development planning needs. Certain concerns are raised. For example, the NHPL has not been amended since it was issued in 1980 and the issue of archaeology protection is absent from related national laws, especially those covering activities related to the environment, municipalities, mining and tourism. What also emerges is that current legislation has not fully been implemented by the relevant organisations, which consequently has negatively affected Oman's archaeological resource management. Finally, the paper proposes the evaluation of all the legislative tools that govern archaeological practice in Oman. It also urges an updating of the NHPL in accordance with new theoretical and practical changes.

Interpreting World War II Intelligence Data for Cultural Heritage Studies

Archaeological and cultural resource management analyses of sites of conflict of the recent past regularly draw on archival intelligence sources, in particular on aerial imagery. Like any other data source, they have their limitations. Using a case study, the World War II battlefield of Kiska in the Aleutians, this paper outlines the processes that generated these intelligence resources, as well as the factors that influenced their survival to the present day. Understanding these processes is necessary when using such sources to understand the development of cultural landscapes as well as specific sites.

Management Versus Preservation: Archaeological Heritage Management in a Transforming South Africa

The discipline of archaeology has, like any other discipline, undergone transformation of various kinds over years. Such transformation is encouraged by various factors, which may range from the need to improve research techniques and theoretical frameworks to extract better results from the material culture to racial transforming within the discipline. The latter is true in the case of South Africa. An effort to bring about racial transformation within South African archaeology was initiated in 2007 by three African archaeologists who had the desire to see meaningful changes happening in the discipline following the democratic transition in 1994. A transformation charter was approved by the professional structure of archaeology in Southern Africa a year later. In it, we not only strive to achieve racial balance within the archaeological discipline, but explore how archaeology is practised in the context of archaeological heritage management. What does this transformation agenda mean for the management of archaeological resources? How can South African archaeological heritage management, through the transformation charter, bring about a truly post-colonial and Africanist archaeology? A review of post-colonial and Africanist ideology in the context of heritage management will be presented. In the case of South Africa, current archaeological heritage management principles are one-dimensional and Eurocentric in that the physical approach to heritage management is emphasized. This approach is at loggerheads with an approach based on African understanding of archaeological heritage management. To highlight this phenomenon, I shall briefly discuss the current heritage legislation. I conclude the paper by arguing that a post-colonial and Africanist archaeology cannot be meaningfully achieved by a mere change of theoretical principles, but by the full incorporation of professionals from across the racial divide. In the context of the paper, archaeological heritage management should not be about managing African heritage for the Africans in their absence.