Page 85 - Studia Universitatis Hereditati, vol 13(1) (2025)

History and Practice of Contract Archaeology in Namibia
Zgodovina in praksa pogodbene arheologije v Namibiji

Goodman Gwasira
University of Namibia
ggwasira@unam.na

Abstract
This article traces how contract archaeology in Namibia emerged and consolidated after 1990 at the in-
tersection of environmental regulation, donor requirements, and large-scale development – especially
mining and energy infrastructure. It shows that, for decades, practice was largely self-regulated in the ab-
sence of national guidelines, drawing authority from Environmental Impact Assessments and the Na- 85
tional Heritage Act. Comparing regional standards (e.g. SAHRA, ASAPA), the paper argues for clear
standard operating procedures, professional accreditation, and capacity building to ensure ethical, con-
sistent work that contributes to scholarship and community engagement. It concludes that Namibia
now has an opportunity to professionalise the field, leverage ‘grey literature’ for research, and align her-
itage protection with sustainable development.
Keywords: contract archaeology, Namibia, environmental impact assessment, cultural heritage manage-
ment, heritage impact assessment

Izvleček
Članek oriše nastanek in utrditev pogodbene arheologije v Namibiji po letu 1990 na presečišču okolj-
skih predpisov, zahtev donatorjev in obsežnih razvojnih projektov – zlasti v rudarstvu in energetiki. Po-
kaže, da se je praksa dolgo opirala na samoregulacijo ter na postopke presoje vplivov na okolje in Naci-
onalni zakon o dediščini, saj nacionalnih smernic ni bilo. V primerjavi z regionalnimi standardi (npr.
SAHRA, ASAPA) avtor zagovarja jasne postopke, profesionalno akreditacijo in krepitev zmogljivo-
sti za etično, usklajeno delo, ki prispeva k znanosti in vključevanju skupnosti. Zaključi, da ima Nami-
bija priložnost za profesionalizacijo področja, raziskovalno rabo »sive« literature in boljše usklajevanje
varstva dediščine s trajnostnim razvojem.
Ključne besede: pogodbena arheologija, Namibija, presoja vplivov na okolje, upravljanje kulturne dediš-
čine, presoja vplivov na dediščino

Introduction archaeologists have long positioned themselves –
ontract archaeology in Namibia emerged and continue to do so – as the providers of spe-
as a response to shifts in the local and cialist archaeological services because environ-
Cinternational legislation regarding en- mental impact assessments require specialist
vironmental impact management. These laws, reports for cultural heritage as well.
policies, and regulations made it mandatory In addition to the heritage and environ-
for developers to enable pre-development envi- mental legislation, the development of contract
ronmental impact assessments to be conduct- archaeology was promoted by the international
ed. According to the Namibian environmental funding institutions in the field of development
and heritage laws, the developer is responsible aid that made predevelopment surveys a prereq-
for paying for the impact assessments (Nation- uisite for funding major development projects
al Heritage Act 2004, S. 54, ss. 7). As such, in the country. The attainment of Namibian
https://doi.org/10.26493/2350-5443.13(1)85-99 © author/authors