Bertram B Mapunda
Biographic Data
| ID | 98302 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Bertram B Mapunda |
| GIVEN NAMES | Bertram B |
| FAMILY NAME | Mapunda |
| SIGNATURE | MAPUNDA B B |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Dar es Salaam |
| VERIFIED | No |
| TOTAL WORKS | 17 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 32 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 17 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 1997 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2023 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
They know more than we do, yet we appreciate them less than they deserve: Decoding local ontologies in heritage interpretation and preservation in Southern Tanzania
Many of the heritage sites researchers work on are reported to them by local people. Sometimes local people spend their meagre resources to protect such sites before researchers and heritage practitioners know about and visit them. Despite these roles, their (local people) skillsets and knowledge about the sites, including materials therein, are often ignored. A few researchers who value the contributions of local people give them temporary casua…
An archaeometallurgical investigation of iron smithing in Swahili contexts and its wider implications
This paper presents the most extensive archaeometallurgical study of iron-smithing debris excavated in East Africa. It presents an integrated methodology, including morphological, chemical, petrographic, and contextual analysis of iron slag excavated from secondary ironworking contexts. Iron slag from three Swahili sites was analysed-Unguja Ukuu located on the southwestern coast of Zanzibar, and Tumbe and Chwaka situated in the north-east of Pemb…
Debate: Why Study Precolonial African Technology and Material Culture
The worthiness (or worthlessness) of Africa's precolonial history has been a much debated theme since the colonial period. Diverse paradigms, historiographies, and schools of thought have emerged. Judging by the conference "Technology and Material Culture in African History: Challenges and Potentials for Research and Teaching" in the context of the above debates, we see indications of acknowledging precolonial Africa's potential to the present wo…
Metals and metal-working along the Swahili coast
Metals and metal-working along the Swahili coast - 1
Get off my land! Towards mutual understanding in archaeological field conflicts
Genuine community participation in research and conservation projects is crucial for sustainable protection, management and development of archaeological sites, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the scientific value of such resources is less appreciated. Local people often become suspicious of and discontented with field researchers who do not inform them of what they are doing around their courtyard, just as they are displeased with governm…
Encounter with an “Injured Buffalo: ” Slavery and Colonial Emancipation in Tanzania
Tanganyika, today Tanzania Mainland, was one of four countries, including Namibia, Cameroon, and Togo, that suffered under German colonial rule in Africa. Formally lasting from 1885 to 1918, German rule over Tanganyika commenced at the peak of slave trading in the region. As such, the politico-economic modes of slavery and colonialism influenced each other variably during German rule. Some of these influences have been better studied and document…
Challenges to the retention of the integrity of World Heritage Sites in Africa: The case of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, Tanzania
For World Heritage Sites (WHS) to be sustainable, they need regular care and established Management Plans. Such care depends, however, upon the availability of resources (both technical and financial) and the readiness and commitment of government, together with the involvement of other stakeholders such as local communities. The application of this care results in the continued survival of WHS despite the anthropogenic and natural threats that t…
Knowledge about archaeological field schools in Africa: The Tanzanian experience
Despite the increase number of African professionals in archaeology over the last three decades, knowledge about the history and state of contemporary archaeological field schools and how Africans are trained in the discipline is poor. This paper argues that close examination and open discussion of past and current archaeological field schools are a must if transformations of archaeological practices in Africa are expected to take place. Using th…
Jack of Two Trades, Master of Both: Smelting and Healing in Ufipa, Southwestern Tanzania
Chapter Six. Reexamining The Maji Maji War In Ungoni With A Blend Of Archaeology And Oral History
This chapter employs archaeological techniques to verify, clarify, and supplement information used by researchers who have relied on historical methods alone in studying Maji Maji in Ungoni. Historical archaeology is a sub-discipline of archaeology which shares time scope and methods with history, particularly the application of archival and oral sources. The chapter is based on a research conducted from 200204 in Ungoni, which today constitutes …
The archaeology of Tanzanian coastal landscapes in the 6th to 15th centuries AD (the Middle Iron Age of the region)
The archaeology of Tanzanian coastal landscapes in the 6th to 15th centuries AD (the Middle Iron Age of the region), by Edward Pollard, Oxford, Archaeopress, British Archaeological Reports S1873, C
This is what pots look like here: Ceramics, tradition and consumption on Mafia Island, Tanzania
The Mafia archipelago, off the southern coast of Tanzania, is home to a thriving tradition of ceramic manufacture and use, as part of a more general repertoire of small-scale craft activity on the islands. As such, the archipelago is unusual for the Swahili coast, where cheap imported vessels have mostly replaced locally-produced ceramics for cooking and serving food. Recent ethnoarchaeological fieldwork carried out in the archipelago has examine…
A Critical Examination of Isaria Kimambo's Ideas Through Time
In this paper I attempt to review critically the historical thought of Isaria Kimambo through time by examining a selected number of his publications and manuscripts. The paper also incorporates comments from his peers and colleagues, as well as his own assessment. In conclusion, the paper appeals to historical institutions and organizations in the developing world (including the Department of History, University of Dar es Salaam and the Historic…
Archaeology for Whose Interest – Archaeologists or the Locals
Archaeological research in East Africa started over eighty years ago with two major spatial foci, one centred on the interior along the Eastern Rift Valley, and the other along the coast from Somalia south as far as Mozambique. Initially, research in the interior was mostly concerned with hominid evolution and the Early Stone Age, and Later Stone Age rock art, resulting in the discovery of numerous internationally famous archaeological localities…
Soil erosion, iron smelting and human settlement in the Haubi Basin, north-central Tanzania
The Haubi Basin, situated in the Irangi Hills of Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania (FIGURE 1), exhibits some of the most extreme examples of erosion and associated sedimentation in the region (Christiansson 1981; Payton et al. 1992) (FIGLIRE 2). The severity of the problem, with its consequent loss of productive land, has been known since the beginning of the 20th century (Kannenberg 1900; Obst 1915). Recognition of the extent and severity…
Ideology and the Archaeological Record in Africa: Interpreting Symbolism in Iron Smelting Technology
Patching up evidence for ironworking in the horn
This is what pots look like here: Ceramics, tradition and consumption on Mafia Island, Tanzania
The Mafia archipelago, off the southern coast of Tanzania, is home to a thriving tradition of ceramic manufacture and use, as part of a more general repertoire of small-scale craft activity on the islands. As such, the archipelago is unusual for the Swahili coast, where cheap imported vessels have mostly replaced locally-produced ceramics for cooking and serving food. Recent ethnoarchaeological fieldwork carried out in the archipelago has examine…
Challenges to the retention of the integrity of World Heritage Sites in Africa: The case of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, Tanzania
For World Heritage Sites (WHS) to be sustainable, they need regular care and established Management Plans. Such care depends, however, upon the availability of resources (both technical and financial) and the readiness and commitment of government, together with the involvement of other stakeholders such as local communities. The application of this care results in the continued survival of WHS despite the anthropogenic and natural threats that t…
Knowledge about archaeological field schools in Africa: The Tanzanian experience
Despite the increase number of African professionals in archaeology over the last three decades, knowledge about the history and state of contemporary archaeological field schools and how Africans are trained in the discipline is poor. This paper argues that close examination and open discussion of past and current archaeological field schools are a must if transformations of archaeological practices in Africa are expected to take place. Using th…
They know more than we do, yet we appreciate them less than they deserve: Decoding local ontologies in heritage interpretation and preservation in Southern Tanzania
Many of the heritage sites researchers work on are reported to them by local people. Sometimes local people spend their meagre resources to protect such sites before researchers and heritage practitioners know about and visit them. Despite these roles, their (local people) skillsets and knowledge about the sites, including materials therein, are often ignored. A few researchers who value the contributions of local people give them temporary casua…
Soil erosion, iron smelting and human settlement in the Haubi Basin, north-central Tanzania
The Haubi Basin, situated in the Irangi Hills of Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania (FIGURE 1), exhibits some of the most extreme examples of erosion and associated sedimentation in the region (Christiansson 1981; Payton et al. 1992) (FIGLIRE 2). The severity of the problem, with its consequent loss of productive land, has been known since the beginning of the 20th century (Kannenberg 1900; Obst 1915). Recognition of the extent and severity…
Jack of Two Trades, Master of Both: Smelting and Healing in Ufipa, Southwestern Tanzania
Ideology and the Archaeological Record in Africa: Interpreting Symbolism in Iron Smelting Technology
Patching up evidence for ironworking in the horn
Soil erosion, iron smelting and human settlement in the Haubi Basin, north-central Tanzania
The Haubi Basin, situated in the Irangi Hills of Kondoa District, Dodoma Region, Tanzania (FIGURE 1), exhibits some of the most extreme examples of erosion and associated sedimentation in the region (Christiansson 1981; Payton et al. 1992) (FIGLIRE 2). The severity of the problem, with its consequent loss of productive land, has been known since the beginning of the 20th century (Kannenberg 1900; Obst 1915). Recognition of the extent and severity…
Archaeology for Whose Interest – Archaeologists or the Locals
Archaeological research in East Africa started over eighty years ago with two major spatial foci, one centred on the interior along the Eastern Rift Valley, and the other along the coast from Somalia south as far as Mozambique. Initially, research in the interior was mostly concerned with hominid evolution and the Early Stone Age, and Later Stone Age rock art, resulting in the discovery of numerous internationally famous archaeological localities…
A Critical Examination of Isaria Kimambo's Ideas Through Time
In this paper I attempt to review critically the historical thought of Isaria Kimambo through time by examining a selected number of his publications and manuscripts. The paper also incorporates comments from his peers and colleagues, as well as his own assessment. In conclusion, the paper appeals to historical institutions and organizations in the developing world (including the Department of History, University of Dar es Salaam and the Historic…
This is what pots look like here: Ceramics, tradition and consumption on Mafia Island, Tanzania
The Mafia archipelago, off the southern coast of Tanzania, is home to a thriving tradition of ceramic manufacture and use, as part of a more general repertoire of small-scale craft activity on the islands. As such, the archipelago is unusual for the Swahili coast, where cheap imported vessels have mostly replaced locally-produced ceramics for cooking and serving food. Recent ethnoarchaeological fieldwork carried out in the archipelago has examine…
Chapter Six. Reexamining The Maji Maji War In Ungoni With A Blend Of Archaeology And Oral History
This chapter employs archaeological techniques to verify, clarify, and supplement information used by researchers who have relied on historical methods alone in studying Maji Maji in Ungoni. Historical archaeology is a sub-discipline of archaeology which shares time scope and methods with history, particularly the application of archival and oral sources. The chapter is based on a research conducted from 200204 in Ungoni, which today constitutes …
The archaeology of Tanzanian coastal landscapes in the 6th to 15th centuries AD (the Middle Iron Age of the region)
The archaeology of Tanzanian coastal landscapes in the 6th to 15th centuries AD (the Middle Iron Age of the region), by Edward Pollard, Oxford, Archaeopress, British Archaeological Reports S1873, C
Jack of Two Trades, Master of Both: Smelting and Healing in Ufipa, Southwestern Tanzania
Knowledge about archaeological field schools in Africa: The Tanzanian experience
Despite the increase number of African professionals in archaeology over the last three decades, knowledge about the history and state of contemporary archaeological field schools and how Africans are trained in the discipline is poor. This paper argues that close examination and open discussion of past and current archaeological field schools are a must if transformations of archaeological practices in Africa are expected to take place. Using th…
Metals and metal-working along the Swahili coast
Metals and metal-working along the Swahili coast - 1
Get off my land! Towards mutual understanding in archaeological field conflicts
Genuine community participation in research and conservation projects is crucial for sustainable protection, management and development of archaeological sites, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the scientific value of such resources is less appreciated. Local people often become suspicious of and discontented with field researchers who do not inform them of what they are doing around their courtyard, just as they are displeased with governm…
Encounter with an “Injured Buffalo: ” Slavery and Colonial Emancipation in Tanzania
Tanganyika, today Tanzania Mainland, was one of four countries, including Namibia, Cameroon, and Togo, that suffered under German colonial rule in Africa. Formally lasting from 1885 to 1918, German rule over Tanganyika commenced at the peak of slave trading in the region. As such, the politico-economic modes of slavery and colonialism influenced each other variably during German rule. Some of these influences have been better studied and document…
Challenges to the retention of the integrity of World Heritage Sites in Africa: The case of Kilwa Kisiwani and Songo Mnara, Tanzania
For World Heritage Sites (WHS) to be sustainable, they need regular care and established Management Plans. Such care depends, however, upon the availability of resources (both technical and financial) and the readiness and commitment of government, together with the involvement of other stakeholders such as local communities. The application of this care results in the continued survival of WHS despite the anthropogenic and natural threats that t…
They know more than we do, yet we appreciate them less than they deserve: Decoding local ontologies in heritage interpretation and preservation in Southern Tanzania
Many of the heritage sites researchers work on are reported to them by local people. Sometimes local people spend their meagre resources to protect such sites before researchers and heritage practitioners know about and visit them. Despite these roles, their (local people) skillsets and knowledge about the sites, including materials therein, are often ignored. A few researchers who value the contributions of local people give them temporary casua…
An archaeometallurgical investigation of iron smithing in Swahili contexts and its wider implications
This paper presents the most extensive archaeometallurgical study of iron-smithing debris excavated in East Africa. It presents an integrated methodology, including morphological, chemical, petrographic, and contextual analysis of iron slag excavated from secondary ironworking contexts. Iron slag from three Swahili sites was analysed-Unguja Ukuu located on the southwestern coast of Zanzibar, and Tumbe and Chwaka situated in the north-east of Pemb…
Debate: Why Study Precolonial African Technology and Material Culture
The worthiness (or worthlessness) of Africa's precolonial history has been a much debated theme since the colonial period. Diverse paradigms, historiographies, and schools of thought have emerged. Judging by the conference "Technology and Material Culture in African History: Challenges and Potentials for Research and Teaching" in the context of the above debates, we see indications of acknowledging precolonial Africa's potential to the present wo…
Archaeology (13 works) · Geography (11 works) · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories (11 works) · History (11 works) · Law (9 works) · Political science (9 works) · Sociology (8 works) · Politics (7 works) · Tanzania (7 works) · African history and culture analysis (6 works)