The cosmopolitan approach as a new paradigm for rock art heritage management in Southern Africa – COSMO-ART
COSMO-ART proposes a new methodology based on a Cosmopolitan Approach to assess common interest points in uses and perceptions of rock art sites so as to articulate perceptions and development policies and better fulfil requirements of sustainability. This methodology has been elaborated by consortium members in the Maloti-Drakensberg WHS (South Africa-Lesotho) and COSMO-ART intends now to test its transferability by investigating 2 other regions: 1/ the Kimberley area, South Africa and 2/ the Erongo massif, Namibia. This cosmopolitan approach requires designing a systemic, diachronic and interdisciplinary methodology, combining contributions of archaeology, history, museography, human and social geography, environmental and cultural anthropology, geomorphology, and materials science. The project is split into 3 interdependent WP: 1/ Uses and values of rock art sites; 2/ Tourist activities and public presentation; 3/ Vulnerabilities and mitigation strategies.
Project coordination
Mélanie DUVAL MASSALOUX (ENVIRONNEMENTS, DYNAMIQUES ET TERRITOIRES DE LA MONTAGNE)
The author of this summary is the project coordinator, who is responsible for the content of this summary. The ANR declines any responsibility as for its contents.
Partner
The Sol Plaatje University / School of Humanities
National Heritage Council of Namibia / Archaeology and Heritage Research Department
EDYTEM ENVIRONNEMENTS, DYNAMIQUES ET TERRITOIRES DE LA MONTAGNE
PACEA DE LA PREHISTOIRE A L'ACTUEL : CULTURE, ENVIRONNEMENT ET ANTHROPOLOGIE
Origins Centre Museum - Wits University / Archaeology Division
SARADA Wits University / African Rock Art Digital Archive
University of Pretoria / Department of Anthropology and Archaeology
University of Western Australia / The Centre for Rock Art Research + Management
EA Eco-Anthropologie
TRACES Travaux de Recherches Archéologiques sur les Cultures, les Espaces et les Sociétés
Afrique au Sud du Sahara
National Museum of Namibia / National Museum of Namibia
University of Namibia / History and Environmental Studies
RARI Wits University / Rock Art Research Institute
Help of the ANR 559,188 euros
Beginning and duration of the scientific project:
January 2022
- 48 Months
