Bibliographic Information
Article Title
‘Where angels fear to tread’: ethics, commercial archaeology, and extractive industries in southern Africa
Journal Title
Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa
Author(s)
Chirikure, Shadreck
Year of Publication
2014
Volume Number
49
Issue Number
2
Article Pages
218-231
Web Address (URL)
Additional Information
Available Through
Taylor & Francis Online
Language
English
Notes
Themed Issue: The ethics of archaeological practice in Africa
Abstract: This paper draws from two main examples of commercial archaeology, one in South Africa and the other in Namibia, associated with large-scale mining in southern Africa and interrogates the associated ethical issues. It argues that while continuous talk is made about the arrogance of miners, archaeologists must put their house in order by practising good ethics, minimising politics between themselves and being prepared to accept compromises with development to secure a more positive heritage future. Indeed, the issue of ethics has dogged the relationship between archaeology and extractive industries in southern Africa since the late nineteenth century. The power of the mining industry nevertheless meant that southern African mining legislation continued to supersede antiquities laws throughout the twentieth century. However, the emergence of developer-funded environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in the 1970s led to greater demands for accountability and by the 1990s extractive industries were obliged by law in most southern African countries to carry out EIAs throughout the mining process, which spawned a boom in commercial archaeology. Today, as Africa experiences sustained economic growth fuelled by extractive industries, ethical questions continue to be raised regarding the mining industry's commitment to heritage protection. Few, however, seem aware that extractive industries can bestow significant favours upon archaeology, particularly in the areas of site discovery, conservation, training and the funding of basic research.
Additional tags: commercial archaeology; South Africa; Namibia; development; extractive industry; environmental impact assessment; heritage protection
Taxonomies
RPA Codes & Standards
- Adequate Preparation for Research Projects
- Archaeologist's Responsibility to Colleagues, Employees, and Students
- Archaeologist's Responsibility to Employers and Clients
- Archaeologist's Responsibility to the Public
- Integrity of Research Methodology
- Procedures for Field Survey or Excavation
CIfA Codes
- Principle 1: Adherence to ethical and responsible behaviour in archaeological affairs
- Principle 2: Responsibility for the conservation of the historic environment
- Principle 5: Recognition of aspirations of employees, colleagues and helpers in all matters of employment
Keywords & Terms
- Conflicts of Interest
- Conservation
- Environmental Impact and Issues
- Funding, Employment, and/or Compensation for Work
- Impact on Communities - Local, Descendant, etc.
- Management of Cultural Resources, Heritage, History
- Preservation of Archaeological Resources
- Professional Standards
- Promotion of Archaeological Research/Archaeology as Scientific Discipline
- Protection and Non-Disclosure of Archaeological Sites
- Public Interest, Collaboration, Education, and Outreach
- Respect for and Responsibility to Affected Groups
- Standards of Data Collection, Recordation, Analysis
- Standards of Training and Student/Teacher Responsibilities
- Stewardship