A conservation model for rock art in South Africa: a management perspective
Date
2015-10
Authors
Katsetse, Elijah Dumisani
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Abstract
A call for a more systematic approach to site protection and management has long
been made for rock art conservation in South Africa. This study heeds the call as
it aims to develop a conservation model for rock art in South Africa from a
management perspective. Site protection and management principles that have
been successfully implemented in Australia and America have seldom been
implemented in South Africa. Conservation researchers argue that it is relatively
easy to identify theoretically the requirements of a management or conservation
policy; however, developing a conservation model and policy that will
successfully maximize the conservation opportunities is an abstract task. As such
building a conservation model founded on abstract concepts on conservation
would not lead to an improved conservation practice and would be unsuccessful.
In world heritage systems there are, however, essential agreed upon principles on
assessment, criteria, guidelines, standards, and implementation.
Such systems therefore, underscore that the problem is perhaps not with theory
but with conservation practice in South Africa. This study presents new and
original research on rock art conservation interventions assessment on rock art. As
a point of departure this study investigated the history of conservation practice in
South Africa using a conservation assessment model developed by Kathleen
Dardes (1998) for museums in America. The history on conservation practice has
identified inconsistencies in the management of conservation treatments and
approaches to interventions. Conservation interventions are still based on
inductive, emergency salvage approaches with no thorough understanding of
either site or environmental conditions in South Africa. There is little attention
paid to indigenous sensitivities with conservation practices and there are no
standard systems of monitoring and reporting. While far more data is required to
provide definitive conservation strategies, this study proposes a three step
conservation model for rock art in South Africa from a management perspective.
This model focuses on initiating, planning and controlling conservation projects.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand,
Johannesburg, South Africa in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of
Master of Science. October 2015.