Mapping Africa’s Endangered Archaeological Sites and Monuments

The Mapping Africa’s Endangered Archaeological Sites and Monuments (MAEASaM) project, funded by Arcadia charitable foundation, is documenting and compiling a trans-national inventory of Africa’s rich archaeological heritage, including many previously unidentified sites and monuments. Particular emphasis is being given to mapping and recording sites under threat, whether from urban growth, conflict, sea-level change or infrastructure development, among other adverse impacts. Future potential threats (as well as those that have impacted sites in the past and present) are being identified and assessed. The aim is to enhance long-term protection measures and inform new management policies – to be developed by the project’s Africa-based partners and collaborators, with input from the various MAEASaM teams.

The mapping work is carried out using a combination of remote sensing, records-based research and automated site detection methods. The different MAEASaM teams also undertake field assessments of a sample of threatened sites to assess the reliability and accuracy of remote sensing methods for site detection. Training is provided to in-country collaborators in site detection, recording, database entry, and database sustainability.
Phase 1 of the project was completed on 30 June 2024, having mapped and documented many thousands of archaeological sites across Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Sudan, Senegal, Mali, Kenya, Ethiopia and Botswana. In Phase 2 (2024-29), made possible through follow-on funding from Arcadia, the project is continuing its work in those countries and has now expanded its coverage to additional areas including Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and The Gambia. All countries selected represent a cross-section of site types and conditions, a diversity of threats to archaeological sites, and varying national needs, capacities and data availability. 

The aspiration of this collaborative work is to create a comprehensive digital repository of sites and monuments for the use, in the first instance, by heritage managers within in-country heritage structures and, eventually by researchers, scholars and the general public, via a public access database powered by Arches. The collated and analysed data will be used to develop country-specific recommendations for future research priorities and management and mitigation strategies, in consultation with relevant national, regional and international heritage management agencies. The database will also be used to promote wider public understanding of Africa’s rich and diverse archaeological heritage.