The Mediterranean moment of Namibian rock art, or the legitimisation of colonial presence through heritage-making (1948-1954)
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 5701161 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hugo Quemin (0009-0008-8127-4578, Université Savoie Mont Blanc, corresponding author), Benjamin Smith (0000-0003-1215-4093, The University of Western Australia), Goodman Gwasira (University of Namibia), David Morris (0000-0002-1754-8932, Sol Plaatje University Kimberley), Mélanie Duval (0000-0003-3570-3104, CNRS EDYTEM (Environment Dynamics and Territories of the Mountain)) |
| Year | 2025 |
| Volume | 31 |
| Issue | 8 |
| Pages | 1003-1027 |
| Publication date | 2025-08-03 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | International Journal of Heritage Studies (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1352-7258 • E-ISSN: 1470-3610 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/13527258.2025.2520747 |
| OpenAlex | W4411515926 |
| Language | EN |
| References cited | 21 |
While critical heritage studies have emphasised the need to decolonise heritage practices, the legacy of colonial-era heritage-making remains largely underexplored. This article examines the early proclamations of five rock art sites as National Monuments in Namibia during the 1950s. Through an analysis of the historical and political dynamics, alongside the involvement of leading archaeologists with colonial administrations, this study uncovers the intricate relationship between rock art heritage-making and colonial politics. For the first time, drawing on extensive archival research, it traces the emergence of Namibia’s first heritage body, the Historical Monuments Commission, and examines how rock art was instrumentalised within colonial frameworks – the appropriation of precoloniality. By revisiting this critical period, this article offers a nuanced perspective on the tensions between colonial heritage-making and contemporary decolonial efforts
Ancient history · Archaeology · Business · Colonialism · Geography · Making-of · Mediterranean climate · Rock art · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Global Maritime and Colonial Histories · History
A History of African Archaeology
Decolonizing Heritage Management Systems
Telling impressions
Inventaire provisoire des sites préhistoriques d'Afrique australe visités, relevés ou signalés par l'abbé Breuil
Exploring Multiple Conditions of Participation on Community-based Heritage Management
Showcasing South African rock art on postage stamps
The Monuments of South Africa
The Tsisab Ravine and Other Brandberg Sites
The Age and the Authors of the Painted Rocks of Austral Africa
The White Lady of Brandberg, South-West Africa, Her Companions and Her Guards
An Obituary to Two South West African Pioneers in Archaeology, Ernst Scherz and Albert Viereck
Routledge Handbook of Critical African Heritage Studies
Influence des peuples de civilisation classique dans les peintures rupestres de l'Afrique Australe
Memorial politics
Making the past for South Africa's future
Claiming rock art, claiming indigeneity
| Citation velocity | historical |
|---|---|
| Highly cited | No |