Abstract
The language of archaeological “conservation” is often passive, officious, and removed from conditions on the ground. The fundamental question—why conserve?—is seldom asked. Yet it is often assumed a priori that conservation is both necessary and beneficial. In the reflexive spirit of regularly questioning accepted practices, this paper situates “conservation” at three southern African rock art sites. These sites help to foreground indigenous notions of materiality and history that both embrace and eschew curatorial intervention. They also
speak of imperial, colonial, and apartheid pasts that carry their burdens into the present. Finally, restoring to prominence the role of the present, along with conservation’s benefits to the past and the future, offers multiple temporal, spatial, and cultural perspectives that situate conservation as a set of negotiated,
evolving practices.
speak of imperial, colonial, and apartheid pasts that carry their burdens into the present. Finally, restoring to prominence the role of the present, along with conservation’s benefits to the past and the future, offers multiple temporal, spatial, and cultural perspectives that situate conservation as a set of negotiated,
evolving practices.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | Of the past, for the future |
| Subtitle of host publication | Integrating archaeology and conservation |
| Editors | Janet Bridgeland, Neville Agnew |
| Place of Publication | Los Angeles |
| Publisher | The Getty Conservation Institute |
| Pages | 346-351 |
| Number of pages | 6 |
| ISBN (Print) | 0892368268 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
Publication series
| Name | Proceedings of the conservation theme at the 5th World Archaeological Congress, Washington, D.C., 22-26 June 2003 |
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