The first week of the UNESCO Regional Training in Mapping and Documenting Marine Cultural Heritage in Mombasa focussed on survey techniques, with an intense diving training schedule in both the pool and open water. Participants enjoyed a welcoming event on the 25^th of May, by Mr. Ceasar Bita, National Museums Kenya; the Director of National Museums in the Coastal Region, Mr Athman Hussein; Ms Judith Ogana from the UNESCO Regional Office for Eastern Africa; and Dr. Arturo Rey da Silva from the University of Edinburgh, ICOMOS-ICUCH. Following a formal opening of the training, participants received an introduction to the course, and discussed the discipline, conceptualisation, and elaboration of Maritime Archaeology as a discipline, and Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) as a resource. As part of this introduction, the case study of the Rising from the Depths Network was used to exemplify the regional extent of MCH in East Africa, and to draw attention to the potential sustainable utilisation of MCH now and into the future. The primary impacts, challenges, and contributions of MCH to Sustainable Development were discussed and presented by participants from Angola, Benin, Comoros, Djibuti, Eritrea, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Seychelles, Sudan, and Tanzania.

Trainers and Participants at the UNESCO Regional Training opening session

Following the opening event, the first day of diving began with a reconnaissance dive on the remains of Sussex SV (1866 – 1909). The vessel was an iron-hulled three masted trade ship, converted to a barque 1883. Used primarily in the Calcutta jute trade, the vessel was transporting 1500 tonnes of coal from Cardiff to Mombasa, before running aground on course for the Old Port at Fort Jesus, Mombasa. The participant’s first dive on the wreck was met with challenging conditions with limited visibility and a strong swell, limiting diving time. Further inspections were postponed for the following day. Alongside diving, participants practiced archaeological survey techniques in the pool, conducting offsets, trilateration, and photogrammetry techniques. Throughout the following three dives on the site, the participants yielded successful results, drawing site maps and employing basic survey techniques, before conducting photogrammetry on a section of the vessel’s hull.

Diver practicing offsets and trilateration techniques in the swimming pool

Divers surveying on Sussex

The team after the final survey on Sussex

The following week of training will focus on producing an archaeological report on the wreck and an exhibition, showcased first at the Raising Awareness on Underwater Cultural Heritage in Africa event on the 4^th of June at Fort Jesus, and then kept permanently at the Fort Jesus Museum.

To celebrate African World Heritage Day 2022, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Eduardo Mondlane University (UEM) organized a seminar on African Heritage, as a Source of Humanity, Innovation and Resilience. This was held on 6 May 2022 and focused on the activities and results for different projects funded by the Rising From the Depths (RFtD) Network Plus Programme, and how these are encouraging greater integration of natural and cultural heritage in Mozambique, as illustrated by the recently launched Chongoene Archaeological and Biocultural Heritage Project, Gaza Province, sponsored by the Gerda Henkel Foundation.

The seminar’s objectives were to: i) disseminate the research results and outreach activities undertaken by Mozambique-based lecturers, researchers, and students, especially those at the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology (DAA), while acknowledging the support of national and international partners; ii) demonstrate how marine cultural heritage can be used to benefit coastal communities in Mozambique through the RFtD approach, as exemplified by the Chongoene Archaeological and Biocultural Heritage Park; iii) present proposals for the classification of cultural and natural properties of Mozambique that might be inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List; and iv) promote actions and initiatives with youth groups aimed at the preservation of Mozambique’s cultural and natural heritage, being incentivized directly by the African World Heritage Fund.

Opening ceremony: UEM Dean Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Dr Samuel Quive (centre), Head Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Dr Hilário Madiquida (right) & Program coordinator and RftD Co I, Dr Solange Macamo (left). Photo: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM.

The seminar was held at the main UEM Campus, attracting 89 participants, with many attending physically and others virtually through a Zoom Meeting platform. The programme was organised around two sessions, each with vibrant presentations from University professors, lectures, students and researchers. The sessions encouraged lively debate and discussions, especially on the development of strategies for safeguarding cultural heritage, as well as on the means for the protection and preservation of the archaeological heritage in different parts of Mozambique.

SUMMARY OF THE SESSIONS- AFRICAN WORLD HERITAGE DAY 2022 CELEBRATIONS AT UEM: THE RISING FROM THE DEPTHS DEBATES

Session participants. Photo: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM.

Dr Mussa Raja, Director of Ceremonies. Photo: Faculty Communication and image office

In his presentation, the Head of the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology, Dr Hilário Madiquida, emphasized the visible results of the implementation of the RFtD approaches to Archaeological and Heritage Management in Mozambique. As an example of the impact the programme has had, he noted the number of theses written by students, and academic papers written by lecturers and students dealing with this approach. He gave the example of the Chongoene Archaeological and Biocultural Heritage project as an important outcome of the RFtD. It demonstrates how the marine heritage can benefit local communities living in the coast. The project joins a team of researchers from EMU, UniSave, Pedagogical University and Cambridge University, being coordinated by Dr Solange Macamo and advised by Professor Paul Lane. He also acknowledged the contributions of the biocultural heritage approach being promoted by the Sida-funded research and training program linking UEM and Uppsala University (Sweden) that he coordinates.

Dr Hilário Madiquida. Photo: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM

The UEM Director for Culture, Kátia Filipe presenting during the opening ceremony. Photo: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM

The Dean of the Faculty, Dr Samuel Quive, thanked Dr Jon Henderson for involving Mozambican researchers and students in the RFtD network and the opportunities this had given them to run their own projects, and for the good results that have been presented from last year, when African World Heritage Day started to be celebrated in Mozambique at UEM. He also thanked Dr Henderson for availing funding for the seminar. He welcomed the Park project as the result of RftD activities in Mozambique and funding received from the Gerda Henkel Foundation for helping to establish it, while also recognizing the valuable support to heritage initiatives provided by local communities and other international partners.

Dean of the Faculty, Dr Samuel Quive. Photo by: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM.

Key observations from the presentations

Énio Tembe made a key point in his paper on food and diet on the southern Mozambique coast: developing business and intangible heritage about the need to present Chongoene’s heritage in a way that is in line with community needs. The paper was very much appreciated during the seminar, since it placed value on local culinary practices as an important intangible heritage that can be used to stimulate local business activity, in this way helping sustain the Park. Another key paper, presented by a group of students from UEM, outlined a new system for grading the built heritage of Inhambane province, especially that found in coastal towns. This system defines compatible uses for different types of buildings and how these can serve the needs of local coastal communities. This is well in line with the RFtD approach.

Student presentation of the grade system and uses of the built heritage in Inhambane. Photo courtesy of Silva Mazuze.

Student presentation of the grade system and uses of the built heritage in Inhambane. Photo: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM.There was also a very interesting paper by Dr Zacarias Ombe (PI for RFtD-funded project Embracing social learning in the management of ecosystem services in Chongoene District, Gaza Province, Mozambique). He demonstrated clearly how coastal people are benefiting freely from ecosystem services, both in terms of intangible belief systems, including the use of plants for medicine, and also economically since the access to the diversity of coastal ecological resources can provide income generating activities, such as fishing, and materials for housing and energy production. Another very interesting paper, using the RFtD approach came from our department colleague, Dr Esmeralda Mariano who is Associate Professor of Anthropology. Her paper was about “local perceptions of marine cultural and natural heritage in Ibo Island”, located in Cape Delgado Province.

Afternoon session discussion: Left to right: Dr Solange Macamo, Dr Hilário Madiquida, Otília Ngoveni, Dr Esmeralda Mariano & Yolanda Duarte. Photo courtesy of Silva Mazuze.

In her paper, written with Paul Lane, Hamido Atuia, Pedro Moiane and Açucena Nhamtumbo (a final-year BA student), Solange Macamo outlined the main achievements of the Chongoene Archaeology and Biocultural heritage project. These have included the i) signing of a Cooperation Agreement by Eduardo Mondlane Rector together with the Xai-Xai Mayor and the Chongoene District Administration; ii) the development of proposal for zoning the park into five zones (archaeological, ecological, touristic, indirect zone of influence of the Park of the old Beach of Xai-Xai and a buffer zone), where the community activities related to the use of ecosystem services are considered; iii)the compilation of protective biocultural legislation; iv) the design of a road layout for the Park and protective signage, using the biocultural legislation and the knowledge of the archaeology as guiding principles; v) the planning of the administration and legal procedures for the architectural design and construction of the Heritage Visitor Centre and Security Cabin; and vi) further funding applications to ensure an Archaeological and Biocultural Heritage Park of excellence that will serve primarily the needs of coastal communities in Chongoene and Xai-Xai Districts.

Dr Solange Macamo presenting an overview of the plans for the Chongoene Archaeological & Biocultural Heritage Park Project. Photo: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM

Map showing the proposed legal protective zoning area of the Chongoene Archaeological & Biocultural Heritage Park and the boundaries of the Park (prepared by Hamido Atuia)

Finally, we had Dr Wesley Forsythe presented the results of his RFtD project in northern Mozambique related to marine cultural heritage, along with Yolanda Duarte who spoke about the activities of the Mozambique Island Archaeological and Resources Centre, for which Dr Solange Macamo has now been appointed Director, responding also for the Faculty Museum of Archaeology, within the university. Dr Macamo will continue working with Dr Ricardo Duarte, coordinating also with local stakeholders and collaborating with local and international partners.

During the closing ceremony, the program coordinator thanked all the committee members who helped to organize the seminar and the participants, and the UEM support staff for the facilities and technical logistics. The Deputy Dean of the Faculty thanked all participants, in particular the Inhambane and Gaza province heritage representatives, for coming. He also thanked all paper contributors and the moderators, for providing interesting discussions centered on research and community outreach at the University research outreach. He appreciated the involvement of the students in this process and recommended the extension of MA training particularly in marine heritage at the University.

Closing ceremony by the UEM Faculty Deputy Dean for Research and Outreach, Dr Elísio Jossias. Photo: Faculty Communication and Image Office, UEM.

Order of presentations

Organizing Committee

• Coordination- Solange Macamo, Énio Tembe, Sidónio Matusse, Silva Mazuze, Altino Munguambe, Arminda Guambe & Jennifer Chambule.
• Protocol– Énio Tembe, Sidónio Matusse, Télvia Machava & Celeste Mandlaze
• Secretariat- Arti Chandra, Hamido Atuia, Stela Gujamo, Clara Mendes, Judite Nhanombe, Braimo Ussene & Milton Chirindza

Recommendations

Before the seminar, we were encouraged by the Rector to publish two-page summaries of all the papers presented in the University Scientific Journal.

Text edited by Solange Macamo & Paul Lane

Layout by Sidónio Matusse

 Acknowledgments

To all who generously provided the complementary data necessary for the edited report.

Maritime Cultural Landscape logo provided courtesy of the University of Coimbra.

The photogrammetry of underwater cultural heritage in the maritime territory of Tsifota farming township, South-West of Madagascar: Winterton (1792), Nossa Senhora do Carmo (1774) and Surprise (1885).

Ship history

Winterton, an English ship that was launched in 1782. Captained by Dundas, this ship left England on May 2, 1792 to pass Madras bound for Bengal. He sailed with around 280 people, including 10 women in addition to his crew, and also carried a cargo of 300,000 silver coins, or about 8 tons of silver. From the Cape of Good Hope, he made his way through the Mozambique Channel because of the winds which were not favorable to the crossing in eastern Madagascar. The captain intended to reconnoitre this island in the vicinity of Saint-Augustin, but contrary winds prevented him. On the night of August 19, 1792, following a misinterpretation of its position, the ship climbed onto the reef just in front of the current Salary Bay hotel, in calm seas. Despite the usual maneuvers, in particular the anchoring of an anchor offshore to try to tow and the lightening of the ship, they were unable to free themselves. As usual, the swell rose and the ship was torn to pieces, resulting in the death of many passengers in appalling conditions. Many accounts of this sinking have been published by survivors. The survivors were taken in by King Baba in Tuléar.

Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo, it is a ship of the Portuguese Royal Navy was put into operation in February 1760 and having been shipwrecked in 1774. After having traveled the Atlantic Ocean for ten years, under the command of Captain Hermogénio de Sousa de Campelo, this ship was sent from the Goa to India to bring artillery. In August 1774 he approached the west coast of Madagascar. On August 8 at 5:30 a.m., this ship landed on the north Salary reef. During the day, the crew and passengers were evacuated to nearby land without difficulty. The ship remained on the heels of the North Salary reef and ended up breaking up. Then, the swell and the currents scattered the wrecks following a cone of dejection. In 1984, Robert Sténuit found this ship with the help of local people and carried out archaeological excavations during his mission. This team had not prioritized the archaeological aspect, it was motivated by the rescue of the values ​​of the boat. However, in the end, she did not find much because the vezo had already passed many times on this site and took everything they found to have values.

Surprise which was sunk in 1885 is an American ship built in 1866 in Boston. On August 16, 1885, she sailed from New York harbor with a cargo of 16,500 barrels of kerosene and set out for the international sea route through the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa to Zanzibar and Chittagong, under orders of Commander Cyrus Averill, bound for Bombay. As he sailed up the Mozambique Channel, he hugged the west coast of Madagascar to dodge a strong southerly current and take advantage of more favorable onshore winds. With fine weather and bright moonlight at 1:30 a.m. on November 21, 1885, Captain Cyrus Averill estimated that Surprise was about 30 miles from the coast. He took a broadside towards the coast and went down to bed, ordering him to be awakened when the land was sighted. Around 4 a.m., the ship suddenly touched down and was still moving forward. Captain Averill had rushed up and ordered the helm to be pulled down the course, but the ship stopped almost immediately afterward, it landed in calm seas on the reefs of Salary North. Eventually, the captain left the ship with his daughter and the rest of the crew. Located in a channel between two reefs, Surprise currently rests at a depth of 17 m.

Photogrammetry mission

From May 07 to 15, 2022, a photogrammetry mission was carried out in collaboration with the Maritime Archeology Trust team as part of the Rising from the Depths innovation research project entitled: Implementation of network system by fishermen’s community actor for the marine cultural heritage survival. Case of the farming township of Tsifota in Southwest of Madagascar. The main objective of this mission was to collect digital data of underwater cultural heritage in order to promote it for tourism development.

The British underwater archaeologist divers from the Maritime Archaeology Trust: Garry Momber and Bradon Mason as well as the team from the Marovany association: Rabekoto Andrinjarisoa Heritiana and Solondrainy Nestor dit Bay, were accessed to the underwater archaeological sites in the mornings from the boat of Fred Lucas of Salary Diving using the diving equipment of this center. In addition, the Maritime Archaeology Trust’s photogrammetry devices were used to obtain photos and video of the sites as well as the wrecks. These images show the locations and number of materials from wrecked ships that are strewn about underwater spaces. Archaeological studies have been carried out to confirm the extent of each site and the wrecks observed. There was also data processing to have 3D photos of sites and wrecks. Below is one of the photos the team took. It is a cross ink of Nossa Senhora do Monte do Carmo. The best site that has a lot of cannons and a romantic site for the diving enthusiast.

Photogrammetry training and practice

Training on the theory and practice of photogrammetry was carried out each afternoon for the Marovany association team in this project. It is an introduction to photogrammetry, equipment for photogrammetry, survey planning for photogrammetry, data processing with Metashape and Meshroom software, optimizing the production and publication of results, and others.

Despite the inability of the Marovany association’s computer for 3D photo processing on the free Meshroom software, the image processing was well done with Metashape from Agisoft and published on the association’s Sketchfab.

The presentation of the results was made so that the fishing communities know the situations of the underwater sites. Tourist operators, village leaders from each fokontany and notables from the village of Salary Nord I have attended. They appreciated very much this act and the activities that were carried out by the videos and especially the processing of 3D images. Results will be published online so that the whole world appreciates the value of underwater cultural heritage for sustainable development.

Questions, suggestions and comments are always welcome, email me at andrinjarisoa@gmail.com

Marine cultural heritage (MCH) represents all tangible and intangible traces of human interaction with the marine environment. This includes the remains of sunken urban structures, shipwrecks, coastal archaeological sites but also traditions, knowledge systems, and a variety of cultural expressions that define the identity of local communities in their use of the marine environment of history. Manifestations that are protected by a series of international legal frameworks like the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage, the 2003 Convention on the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage or, among others, the 1972 Convention on the Protection of the World´s Natural and Cultural Heritage. The Rising from the Depths Network (RftD) aims to harness the potential of MCH for the sustainable development of East African communities. Throughout its 27 projects, RftD has been able to identify ways in which the MCH contributes to the improvement of coastal communities’ livelihoods and has identified gaps and strengths in management approaches and policy development. Areas, where the projects have worked, include some of the most iconic World Heritage sites in East Africa like Lamu Old Town in Kenya, Zanzibar’s Stonetown, and Kilwa Kisiwani in Tanzania, or Mozambique Island in Mozambique.

The UNESCO World Heritage Convention underlines the duty of each State Party to ensure “the identification, protection, conservation, presentation and transmission to future generations of the cultural and natural heritage referred to in Articles 1 and 2 and situated on its territory” (Article 4). Each State Party needs to ensure “that effective and active measures are taken for the protection, conservation and presentation of the cultural and natural heritage situated on its territory” (Article 5), and this includes –although it is not stated it is indeed assumed – the maritime areas and internal waters that are under its jurisdiction. MCH is part of that cultural heritage that needs to be effectively identified, protected, conserved, presented, and transmitted to future generations.

UNESCO and the Rising from the Depths Network organize this thematic workshop to explore the challenges, values, and significance of MCH within World Heritage sites in East Africa with the aim of improving management practice and drawing policy recommendations.

Challenges

The increase in coastal and marine infrastructure development in East Africa, together with an increase in the people living along the coast, and the development of important tourism strategies connected to each countries’ development agendas is placing enormous pressure on communities and their environment, affecting their cultural identities, expressions and heritage. In most of East Africa, the extension of MCH is not yet known. This is due to the lack of appropriate capacities, protocols, or management approaches that could carry out a systematic, inclusive and participatory inventory of the region´s heritage. The inability to register, understand, and study the potential of MCH can be seen in its very absence from the different nominations of East African coastal sites to the UNESCO World Heritage list.

Objectives

This Workshop aims to create awareness of the MCH linked to World Heritage sites, and the threats it is facing. It should also investigate the synergies between different international charters like the UNESCO 2001 and World Heritage Convention. It will present the results from RftD projects in relation to World Heritage sites, and it will underline the importance of community-based integrated management approaches to natural and cultural heritage. The workshop also intends to:

• Highlight the importance of people-centred practices for both the conservation of natural and cultural heritage sites, and the resilience of local communities.
• Raise awareness among policy-makers, heritage practitioners, World Heritage site managers and local communities of the potential of MCH in the design and implementation of management plans and strategies.
• Strengthen dialogue and exchange between experts in the region, consolidating a Network of MCH specialists.
• Identify scientific and management gaps in MCH and World Heritage preservation and conclude with a series of recommendations and needed actions to inform the elaboration of policy briefs that could guide UNESCO Member States in the Region.

Programme and Registration

• You can participate in the workshop by registering HERE
• UNESCO-RftD Workshop_Programme

This University of Surrey based project innovates and consolidates the festival of the sea approach to reharbouring living marine cultural heritage in East Africa through modern craftwork. Children from Anidan Children’s Shelter work with artists using cyanotype printing to engage with UN SDG themes, ‘pollution and plastics’, and issues of ‘food security’, ‘living heritage’ and ‘a good life’.

The project involves UK artist Bronagh Corr-McNicholl (Northern Ireland) working virtually alongside artists Corrie Wingate, Monia Antoniolo and Laura Mwani (Kenya) and Romeo Paul Niwass Lantoarison (Madagascar) to realise a living marine cultural heritage project. Materials are exhibited at The Flipflopi Project in Lamu. Funding is gratefully received from the AHRC/GCRF via The Rising from the Depths Network.

Project Images

Related Pages:

The Rising from the Depths Network (RftD), aiming at harnessing the potential of Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) in contributing to economic, environmental, and social- of sustainable development, has worked over the past four years to change and disrupt traditional narratives that have ignored the relevance of Marine Cultural Heritage and its potential in realizing a just and sustainable development for coastline communities.   

The path towards the consecution of several of the targets and SDGs of this development frameworks pass through the adoption of innovative, inclusive and participatory policies that align local communities’ necessities to the international commitments of States. As the RftD Network’s projects are showing, MCH is an intrinsic component of the livelihoods of traditional coastal communities in East Africa. It’s an element inseparable from the way they interact with their environment, providing both understanding and means to use it for their social, spiritual, and economic benefit. However, the rapid infrastructural and economic development experienced in the East African coast, together with the lack of legal mechanisms and policies that truly include local communities’ interests in consultative processes or impact assessments, is negatively affecting not only their livelihoods but also their fundamental rights to safeguard, enjoy and utilize their own MCH. Equally, the ignorance of traditional knowledge and regulatory systems within the design of national development strategies results in the destruction of a repository of cumulative historical and archaeological knowledge that is key to facing humanity’s challenges. MCH, including underwater archaeological remains, tangible heritage on land, as well as the associated intangible practices bore by the local communities contributes in the society’s combined efforts to alleviating poverty, increasing the quality levels of education for all, ensuring gender equality, mitigating the effects of climate change, or safeguarding the survival of our oceans.  

RftD organizes an online workshop on 3 March 2022 to interrogate the role that national, and international law plays in supporting and realizing the potential of marine cultural heritage within the context of sustainable development. At the same time, the workshop illustrates gaps and deficiencies in MCH preservation and community involvement of the current legal mechanisms in East Africa through the results of several cases studies from the RftD Network. 

Traditional boat building in Lamu, Kenya. Traditional knowledge and practices are disappearing due to the rapid economic development in many parts of the East African coast. The need to develop inclusive and participatory policies is key to ensure that the potential of Marine Cultural Heritage for sustainable development, as well as the rights of community members, is fully understood and considered © Dara Davitti

Objectives 

This workshop will provide an overview of how law affects and interact with MCH. We will consider the main international instruments in force in East Africa as well as how these has been (or not) translated into the national policies. 

 It also intends to reflect on the outcomes of the RftD Network and several of the issues identified with regards to the role of coastal communities in the decision-making processes that affect their marine natural and cultural resources, questioning whether the current legal framework give adequate space to local communities to voice their concerns and participate in the development process.  

The workshop will feature presentations from awardees of RftD sponsored innovation projects and early career researchers from RftD network as well as internationally recognised experts in the field of cultural heritage and international law.  

Date: 3 March 2022, 2-5 pm (GMT)

Download the Programme

Registration LINK

Marine Heritage in Northern Mozambique – return to the Ilha

Wes Forsythe and Ana Margarida Sousa Santos

Rising from the Depths returned to Ilha de Mozambique in November to catch up with community members, share information arising from our activities and investigate new opportunities for improved outcomes for Maritime Cultural Heritage. The Northern Mozambique project had achieved a key target of completing a wide-ranging geophysical survey in the environs of the island in late 2019. However, the hiatus caused by the worldwide pandemic had resulted in missed field seasons and a regrettably long interval between survey activity and the pursuance of other objectives. This was particularly the case for the more community-focused elements of the project, which aimed to canvas community, business and institutional opinion on a range of topics relating to the Ilha’s rich maritime heritage, such as environment, livelihoods and accessibility.

Accordingly, as soon as Mozambique was removed from the UK’s ‘red list’ flights were booked and preparations made (a window of opportunity as it turned would close on the day of our return). Arriving in Nampula for the two -hour drive to the Ilha we reflected on the time that had passed and how the island had fared in our absence.  Ilha de Mozambique has been a World Heritage Site for 30 years, based almost exclusively on its colonial architecture. In contrast its maritime heritage has not received the recognition it deserves and has been compromised by the activities of salvage operators pillaging European shipwrecks for commercial purposes. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated heritage advocates the practise of licensing such companies was ended some years ago. The establishment of Centro de Arqueologia Investigação e Recursos da Ilha de Moçambique (CAIRIM) in 2018 served to put maritime heritage interests on a new footing, becoming a focus for training and research on the island. The centre are key partners in the Northern Mozambique project, along with Eduardo Mondlane University, Ulster University and the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.

CAIRIM were the generous hosts of a workshop conducted by the project team in order to re-establish contact with the community, summarize the key results of the geophysical survey and explore future directions for maritime heritage in the region. The workshop was attended by a range of institutions and local government representatives (the mayor, museum, tourism board, Lúrio University, GACIM – the conservation agency); businesses (tour operators, shop owners); citizens and students. Attendees appreciated our efforts to personally update them on the project and were tremendously helpful in identifying key stakeholders and their contacts for interview over the following weeks.

L-R Ana Sousa Santos (RftD), Chafim Braga (CAIRIM), Wes Forsythe (RftD) and Crimildo Chambe (CAIRIM).

A further highlight was meeting with a local youth group involved in recording elements of intangible heritage from the Ilha. They were engaged in collecting a broad collection of relevant material including rituals and beliefs, language, peoples, neighbourhoods and slavery. The work is coordinated by CAIRIM’s Chafim Braga and toward the end of our trip Chafim organised a further three-day workshop presenting the intangible heritage work as a series of story-mapping projects. The workshop brought together the youth activists, members of CAIRIM’s maritime archaeology research team, and heritage professionals from Ilha and elsewhere in Mozambique. While Marine Cultural Heritage is the main focus of CAIRIM, the presentations at the workshop often elided the sharp distinction between built heritage and marine heritage, allowing for a much more integrated understanding of Ilha’s heritage landscape. This has both advantages and disadvantages when it comes to conservation efforts and the definition of spheres of responsibility blurring the arenas of intervention by different entities. Alongside the presentations and discussions there were visits to the Museum and a brief dive along the Fort showcasing the island’s diverse heritage landscape.

The time between the two workshops was spent in discussions with stakeholders, which provided context and a broader base from which to interpret on-going activities, threats, challenges, and opportunities in the Ilha. Combined with scheduled interviews were a series of serendipitous conversations with residents in Ilha as well as visitors, the Portuguese cooperation agency, and NGO workers involved in a series of local initiatives that were either directly or tangentially related to Marine Cultural Heritage, and whose perspectives and experiences were valuable. These conversations and observations helped understand the heritage environment in the Ilha as one of intense activity, with a wide diversity of projects. Activities undertaken at present address both natural and cultural environments and include the collection of plastics washed ashore, the revitalising of arts and crafts, work with school children to raise environmental concerns, and the collections of local histories and maritime traditions. While positive, these activities seldom see their efforts rewarded with continuity. Cultural Heritage in the Ilha is understood as beneficial in a province with socio-economic difficulties and low employment, however it remains remote to most of the population not working directly within the tourism or heritage sectors, suggesting the need to further awareness, and harness the local potential for development in ways that offer improved livelihoods. The project will now take these findings forward to propose a series of policy and protection recommendations aimed at regional and national agencies.

The Rising from the Depths workshop at CAIRIM

The project was pleased to return to the Ilha after a long absence and gratified by the response from the local community and all the support received by CAIRIM. Our work on long-term environmental change as a context for marine heritage continues to have resonance as a means to enhance the understanding of individual sites and climate change more broadly. While the challenges facing islanders are considerable there is reason for being optimistic that this most outstanding site for marine cultural heritage in Mozambique can offer a means to improve outcomes for communities in future.

Workshop on Maritime Cultural Heritage in Mozambique

When?

22 December 2021 (13.00-15.30 Central African Time / 10.00 – 11.30 GMT)

Overview

We are delighted to invite you to attend a research workshop to share your insights into the social benefits of the conservation of maritime cultural heritage in Mozambique, concerning the challenges and opportunities in a time full of uncertainties. The workshop is part of a research project that seeks to develop a future framework for Community Involvement and Social Investment for A Sustainable and Inclusive Management of Maritime Cultural Heritage in Mozambique. The project is led by the research team based in the University of Glasgow (UK) in partnership with Eduardo Mondlane University (Mozambique) and UNESCO Mozambique. It is one of the several interrelated research projects funded by the Rising from the Depths network sponsored by the UK’s Arts and Humanities Research Council through its Global Challenges Research Fund that aim to utilise Maritime Cultural Heritage to deliver sustainable development.

Objectives

The purpose of this workshop is to bring together representatives from the local and national government, higher education (e.g., universities), tourism industry, charitable organisation as well as local communities to discuss how local maritime cultural heritage is used and perceived, as well as how we could progress towards inclusive management of maritime cultural heritage in Mozambique.

In particular, the discussion will focus on the following issues

• What are the key political and legislative challenges hindering the protection of maritime cultural heritage in Mozambique?
• What are the impacts of major development projects, such as port infrastructures, on local communities’ wellbeing?
• What is the role (negative/positive) played by the tourism industry in maritime cultural heritage conservation for future generations?
• What is the relevance of maritime cultural heritage for the local population?
• How important is conserving maritime cultural heritage in the national and local policy agenda?
• What do policymakers need to do in order to conserve maritime cultural heritage?
• How local communities could become involved in the management of maritime heritage in Mozambique?
• How to maximise the social benefit of maritime cultural heritage to local communities, especially for women, minorities, youth, and the deprived?

Expected Outcomes

All discussions will be recorded and fed into a technical report – mapping of legislative and governance challenges to the conservation of maritime cultural heritage in Mozambique.

Workshop Programme & Participation Information

Workshop 1: Marine Cultural Heritage, Climate Change, and the Environment

Occurred: 27 October 2021 (10 am to 1 pm, UK)

Overview and Discussion Points

In the same week as COP26 commences in Glasgow, the Rising from the Depths (RftD) Network met to discuss how their projects have been effected by climate change, and how the Network has worked to mitigate the effects of a changing climate on vulnerable coastal communities and their natural and cultural heritage. Speakers from East Africa and the UK discussed a range of environmental and cultural issues, from both community and policy-level perspectives. The presentations and subsequent discussions highlighted several overlaps between regions, particularly regarding the identification and translation of Marine Cultural Heritage (MCH) into policy. Various opportunities to develop the role of living practices, and traditional and local knowledge within frameworks such as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), Marine Reserves, as well as policy instruments such as Tanzania’s National Adaptation Plan were highlighted. Ultimately, evidence was provided for both the vulnerability and centrality of cultural resources to the sustainability of local communities in the face of climate change. A major benefit of the RftD approach was seen to be providing a regional ecosystem approach (with a social and cultural element rather than focusing in technical aspects) and, most importantly, in giving communities in the region a voice.

Projects Presented

• Using fishers’ traditional maritime knowledge to improve small-scale fisheries management in northern Madagascar, Chris Poonian, C3 UK
• Establishing a framework for Traditional Heritage Knowledge in Sustainable Development of East African Small-Island and coastal communities (THeK-EA), Chris McGonigle, University of Ulster, and Chepkemboi Labatt, Kenya Marine and Fisheries Institute
• Incorporating Marine Cultural Heritage Protection into Tanzania’s National Adaptation Plan, Hayley Roberts, Bangor University
• East Pemba maritime heritage project, Mark Horton, Royal Agricultural University
• Embracing social learning in the management of ecosystem services in Chonguene district, Gaza province, Mozambique, Zacarias Alexandre Ombe, Universidade Pedagogica
• Marine Cultural Heritage in Northern Mozambique, Wes Forsythe, Ulster University
• The Kisima Project: Historic and future well management on Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania, Elgidius B. Ichumbaki, University of Dar es Salaam
• CoastSnap Mozambique, Luciana Esteves, Bournemouth University

 Primary Findings

Various challenges have been identified across projects, and were often contrasted with the challenges facing natural resources in the region:

• Regarding the integration of cultural values into policy, speakers brought up two primary challenges: the lack of knowledge regarding how to measure and value MCH alongside natural resources; and how to translate these values into community-centric management when there is a lack of understanding and capacity at a policy-maker level. The identification of the right policy-makers, as well as the engagement of targeted dialogue with them, was identified as a major challenge to influence change in the region.There is a lack of clarity at the governmental level not only on the value of marine cultural heritage but on what it actually is – in that most governments view cultural heritage (especially underwater cultural heritage) as a costly resource to be protected rather than a source of information and practice that can inform sustainable approaches. Often the importance of heritage is reduced to its role in sustainable tourism. One of the lessons of the Rising from the Depths projects funded so far is that marine heritage is much more than tourism – it is culture – it is a living and past resource that can inform future practice in the marine zone.The younger generations are not engaging with traditional practices and cultural traditions are being lost. Younger people as a group face the most instability in terms of climate change – as traditional knowledge is not being passed on, communities are losing potential resilience to social and cultural change.
• With regards to coastal development and community practice, most projects identified a community awareness of the fragility of the natural and cultural coastal resources. Local voices were put at the center of discussion, although it was recognized that work needs to be done to integrate local knowledge and belief systems, as well as cultural sensitivity into coastal development, particularly regarding eco and sustainable tourism protocols and regional over-fishing.

• Regarding future research, oppositional constructs were identified regarding the value of MCH between the Global North and South, as well as between professional practitioners, policy-makers, and communities. Further work needs to be conducted to understand and minimize structural inequalities between these constructs, to effectively integrate cultural values into policy. An example of structural differences in local knowledge was identified between generations, and it was suggested that integrating scientific evidence with local practice may re-engage younger generations with sustainable and traditional protocols.

• Overall, the social and cultural elements of climate change were identified by a number of projects, yet still remain undervalued, and under-researched. Future work needs to be conducted into understanding how to identify, monitor, and integrate cultural services into climate change mitigation strategies for the benefit of both the natural and cultural resources, and the communities which depend on them.

It was clear that significant work has been achieved to kickstart these discussions in the region, and future work should focus on disseminating these results into policy and practice.

Wes Forsythe, from the University of Ulster, presenting on their finsing during the RftD project “Marine Cultural Heritage in Northern Mozambique”.

Concluding Remarks

Throughout the discussions, it became clear that traditional livelihood systems, practices, and beliefs – which form the customary regulation frameworks of coastal communities – are at risk of being lost due to a lack of awareness at a governmental-level, and a lack of inclusion within national development policies. The survival of local communities largely depends on the sustainability of marine resources, which in turn, depend upon the re-centring of sustainable, traditional knowledge and practices.

A clear understanding of MCH values and practices, together with local representatives in the policy and decision-making processes, is essential to ensuring preservation and the sustainability of livelihoods at a local level. This is particularly the case when coping with the global challenges posed by climate change. Certainly, RftD projects are showing the direct relation and impact of global policies within the local, living realities of MCH, as well as how urgent it is to include local voices, traditional knowledge and regulations into the wider debate and policy making.

The Workshop also showed that it is only through interdisciplinarity, and community and ecosystems-based integrated approaches that transformation can be achieved. In this sense, it is important to reflect on how we address MCH from an expert perspective to a community one, from the Global North approach, to the needs, narratives and understanding in the Global South.

This was the first workshop organized between the Rising from the Depths Network Innovation projects.  A Second RftD Workshop will dive more into this community-based approach throughout the governance of marine cultural and natural resources within the innovation projects, and a third one will look into creative industries and traditional arts related to the Marine Cultural Heritage and its use.

CHONGOENE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND BIOCULTURAL HERITAGE PARK, GAZA PROVINCE

WITH THE FINANCIAL SUPPORT OF THE GERMAN GERDA HENKEL FOUNDATION

Maputo, October 12th, 2021

The Chongoene Archaeological and Biocultural Heritage Park project, in Gaza Province, Mozambique is financed by the “patrimonies” funding initiative of the GERMAN GERDA HENKEL FOUNDATION – STIFTUNG for a period of 24 months. The project is being coordinated by a tripartite Mozambique University initiative linking Eduardo Mondlane University, UniSave and Maputo Pedagogical University, developed in direct response to the need to preserve and conserve Chongoene’s threatened archaeological and ecological resources, considered here as a significant component of Gaza Province’s biocultural heritage. Therefore, it involves the participation of the Gaza Provincial Government, partners, and young career research assistants.

The project is coordinated by Dr. Solange Macamo from Eduardo Mondlane University. Prof. Paul Lane from the University of Cambridge, UK, serves as the project’s international biocultural heritage advisor. The project grew out of the Rising from The Depths (RfTD) Network as implemented in Mozambique and financed by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council’s Global Challenge Research Funds. It was also inspired by the Biocultural Heritage Project: Developing New Heritage Industries programme being implemented between Eduardo Mondlane University and Uppsala University, Sweden, and funded by SIDA. Additionally, the project draws on the experiences and expertise of the National Park Service in the USA, through previous visits by Dr. Macamo to Charleston Park, South Caroline.

Chongoene District Map

The work at Chongoene consists of three conservation and protection phases and a fourth training phase:

1 – The creation of a public use area and delimitation of the site boundaries along with planning for protection zones and interpretive signage;

2 – Construction of a pathway with interpretive panels and signs within the Park and road signage;

3 – Construction of a Heritage and Visitor Centre hosting exhibitions about the Park, and where curios and information materials can be provided for sale and a security cabin, to help to guide visitors and ensure the security of the Park at the same time;

4 – Using the RfTD Network approach, members of the local coastal community will be identified as guides, guards, and gardeners, and receive training in how to undertake routine monitoring of the protected area and recording of any newly exposed archaeological remains and monitoring ecological changes. Ultimately, they will become recognized as community heritage stewards and it is proposed that they should be hired by the Gaza Provincial Government when the latter takes over management of the Park.

Signing of the Cooperation Agreement between the Rector of the EMU, Prof. Dr. Orlando Quilambo, Xai-Xai Town Municipality Mayor, Msc. Emídio Benjamin Xavier and the Chongoene District Administrator, Mr. Artur Manuel Macamo

Rector of the University of Save, Manuel José de Morais

Chongoene and Old Xai-Xai Beach Dunes Shellmiddens

Chongoene and Old Xai-Xai Beach Dunes Shellmiddens

Chongoene and Old Xai-Xai Beach Dunes Shellmiddens

Chongoene and Old Xai-Xai Beach Dunes Shellmiddens

Ecosystem services at Xai-Xai Old Beach

Ecosystem services at Xai-Xai Old Beach

Ecosystem services at Xai-Xai Old Beach

Chongoene and Xai-Xai Old Beach Vegetation

Chongoene and Xai-Xai Old Beach Vegetation

Chongoene Hotel Ruins

Chongoene Hotel Ruins

The EMU Rector being shown the Park area by the Project coordinator

The EMU Rector being shown the Park area by the Project coordinator

The Heritage Visitor Center location area is being shown to the EMU Rector, during the Cooperation Agreement signing ceremony (3rd of September 2021)

The Heritage Visitor Center location area is being shown to the EMU Rector, during the Cooperation Agreement signing ceremony (3rd of September 2021)

Pottery scatter at Chongoene Archaeological site

60 years of Xai-Xai Town celebration ceremony during which the project was informed to the Gaza Government members on October 6th 2021.

Project team scoping the Heritage Visitor Centre implementation area (8th October 2021)

Project team scoping the Heritage Visitor Centre implementation area (8th October 2021)

The usage of the Park area implementation by the local communities on daily basis activities

The usage of the Park area implementation by the local communities on daily basis activities

The 2019 Field School in Chongoene

An interdisciplinary law/archaeology workshop exploring the negative impact of climate change on Tanzania’s marine cultural heritage

About this event

This interdisciplinary workshop aims to bring together lawyers, archaeologists, environmental experts and policymakers to investigate the extent to which marine cultural heritage (MCH) should be represented as a climate adaptation priority in Tanzania’s National Adaptation Plan (NAP); and, in turn, how this representation could provide greater economic and cultural benefits for citizens by creating the potential to attract support from international funds.

Tanzania’s MCH is in danger of being lost or damaged due to climate change. Under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, Tanzania has prepared a National Adaptation Programme of Action in which it identifies MCH sites as a short-term adaptation priority, and as important to developing sustainable and climate resilient tourism as they are to the country’s enduring cultural heritage. However greater emphasis could be placed on the role that MCH can play in improving the resilience to climate change of coastal communities through sustainable tourism in this sector.

Tanzania is in the process of preparing its NAP, in which it will identify medium- to long-term comprehensive climate adaptation priorities, and this workshop explores the inclusion of MCH as a specific adaptation priority in this policy document so that, ultimately, financial support can be sought for specific projects from the UNFCCC’s financial mechanism and other sources. Greater funding could not only build local capacity to record and preserve MCH at risk of climate change, but also identify infrastructural and developmental priorities to safeguard significant MCH against climate change-related loss and damage to ensure that it becomes an important area of green economic growth for coastal communities through the development of sustainable tourism initiatives, which bolster the resilience of such communities to the negative effects of climate change.

The workshop seeks to address the following questions:

• Should there be a greater focus on the protection of MCH in Tanzania’s NAP, and if so, what impact could such an inclusion realistically have?
• What is the feasibility and viability of including a greater focus on MCH in Tanzania’s NAP?
• If MCH becomes a greater focus in Tanzania’s NAP, what should this look like?
• If feasible and viable, could a similar approach be adopted in the NAPs of other East African coastal countries?

June 2021

The WITH Coastal Style project, supported by the Rising from the Depths (RftD) Network is researching the role of material heritage amongst women in coastal Katembe district, across the bay from the Mozambican capital city, Maputo. The project focuses on understanding and highlighting the complex relationship between tradition and change in the lives of women in Katembe through the capulana, a cloth worn by women throughout Mozambique. Through discussion about capulana, the project provides a forum for women to discuss wider issues relating to their lives at a time of major infrastructural development around Maputo.

In March 2020 flights were booked, visa applications processed, accommodation arranged. The plan was for the National Museums Scotland (NMS) team (Sarah Worden and John Giblin) to join the team in Maputo (Co-Investigator Valda Marcos, Post Graduate Researchers Emilia Machaieie and Claudio Mondlate, and photographer Yassmin Fortes) for the installation of a temporary exhibition at the Fortress Museum in Maputo, a milestone in the delivery of the project. Just days away from travel the pandemic hit our project plans and everything was put on hold. Challenging as this was, we are delighted to report that on 28th May 2021, over thirteen months later than originally planned the exhibition opened. Sadly the NMS team were still unable to travel to be part of the installation and opening event. As curator of the host venue, Co-Investigator Moises Timba co-ordinated the content, installation and opening of the exhibition with the rest of the Mozambican team.

Invitation to the WITH Coastal Style Exhibition opening event

The Exhibition

The exhibition takes as its focus a group of women from Katembe, a coastal fishing community on the South Western side of Maputo Bay who participated in the project research. Proposed urbanization of the Katembe area following the construction of the Maputo-Katembe Bridge in 2019 is likely to impact on the material practices and living traditions of the residents of the small fishing communities in the area. Life by and on the sea, catching, selling and eating fish, is a source of community solidarity that spans generations in Katembe. Through a series of powerful photographs taken among the mothers, daughters, sisters, and friends of Katembe the visitor is introduced to the project, the women, their coastal environment and the role of the cotton printed capulana in their lives as an expression of identity and cultural heritage.

The bi-lingual text panels (Portuguese and English) outlining the research emphasise the collaborative nature of this international project. A personal quote from one of the research participants relating to the significance of the capulana introduces each section panel.

‘I use capulana because I am a Mozambican woman!’

Dona Zena, 22 years, Mahlampfane, Katembe, November 2019

‘Every woman always has to wear a capulana … capulana can be useful in various situations … be it menstruation, pregnancy, carry a baby, go to the market, go to the hospital, in case of accident … ‘

Dona Cristina, 54 years, Guachene, Katembe, November 2019

Collected during the research interviews, these responses are incisive and thought-provoking and, with the images, have been selected to generate discussion and debate concerning the role of material heritage in connecting communities.

The exhibition is ready for visitors in the gallery space of the Fortress Museum

Opening Event

Covid restrictions limited the number of invited guests at the opening event, but a range of institutions were represented, including: Eduardo Mondlane University, Director of Culture, Faculty of Art and Social Sciences, CECOMA (Communication centre of UEM), Ministry of Culture and Tourism (National Director of Heritage), UNESCO, Fisheries Museum (Project partner), and ISARC (Higher Institute of Art & Culture, Mozambique). Among the other guests were university assistants and artists based in Maputo. A welcome speech, including a message from Sarah Worden (NMS), was delivered by RftD Network Co-ordinator for Mozambique, Solange Macamo, Lecturer of Archaeology and Heritage Management in the Department of Archaeology and Anthropology (UEM), who has, throughout the project, provided invaluable support and guidance to the project team

One of the exhibition gallery spaces at the Fortress Museum

Following the opening speeches refreshments were served and a lively performance by Sekerekane, a local female dance group. The sound for the event was organized by Julio, a DJ from the School of Communication and Art (ECA) /UEM).

Exhibition opening speeches in the grounds of the Fortress Museum

A group of women from the project research group also attended the opening, with transport from Katembe organised by the Fisheries Museum. Project team members Emilia and Claudio were on hand to guide the group through the exhibition in which the women are the ‘stars’, and to record their re-actions to the displays to include in the research. Wearing their matching capulana, the design selected by the group in November 2019, as a thank-you gift to the women for their participation in the project, their presence made a powerful visual statement of the role of the capulana in group identity.

The opening event included entertainment by Sekerekane dance troupe

Project team members Moises, Claudio and Emilia with representatives of the Katembe research group

Invited guests view the exhibition displays

Emilia introduces members of the Katembe research group to the exhibition

Members of the Katembe research group, wearing matching capulanas, are among the first to visit the displays

Members of the team have participated in a number of broadcasting events to talk about the project and the exhibition including national Radio station SFM and CECOMA, a centre of communication of UEM who also interviewed others in the project team. Moises Timba also made an appearance on the popular TVM Bom Dia Mocambique programme to talk about the exhibition. Media interest has also included interviews with Yassmin by Mazanga for Radio Mozambique and for Flash radio programme.

We look forward to further project outcomes including the preparation and opening of an itinerant, touring, exhibition in Katembe where the research took place organised by the Fisheries Museum in Maputo, taking the project in a different format to schools and local communities later in the year. You can see more details of the project in the link  Rising from the Depths » Women’s Identity, Textiles and Heritage: Coastal Style in Mozambique (WITH Coastal Style) and in the dedicated page of the National Museums of Scotland, at Women, identity, textiles and heritage in Mozambique | National Museums Scotland Blog

During the last three weeks, the Rising from the Depths Network has cooperated with UNESCO Nairobi Regional Office and the ICOMOS International Scientific Committee for the Underwater Cultural Heritage (ICUCH) in the organization of the Online Training on Underwater Cultural Heritage Protection and Management for African countries. This workshop, which has been kindly supported by the UNESCO Japanese Funds-in-Trust, has introduced participants with the basic theoretical knowledge to understand the tangible and intangible aspects of marine cultural heritage, its connections with communities, and its importance to harness sustainable social, economic, and ecological development. Furthermore, the workshop has widely presented the different tools and approaches to underwater archaeological research and integrated cultural heritage management within the framework of the UNESCO 2001 Convention on the Protection of the Underwater Cultural Heritage.

Dr John Cooper presents the results of the innovation project “Bahari Yetu, Urithi Wetu (Our Ocean, Our Heritage)” in the framework of the UNESCO Online Training on the Research and Management of the Underwater Cultural Heritage for Africa

Rabekoto Andrinjarisoa Heritiana participates at the UNESCO Online training workshop presenting the innovation project “Study and Implementation of Network System by Fishers’ Community Actor for The Marine Cultural Heritage Survival”

Several innovation projects within the Rising from the Depths Network illustrated, with vivid case studies from the region, the different challenges and potentials of marine cultural heritage research, enhancement, and preservation. The key relation between nature and culture, and its wider connection to society and governance shown through these cases demonstrate the need for synergies, and integrated, inclusive, participatory, and interdisciplinary management approaches. The presentations from the RftD projects included in the UNESCO were recorded and are accessible here below:

• Caesar Bita, MUCH to discover in Mida creek: creating pathways to community resilience and sustainable development through the maritime cultural landscape in Kenya;
• Daria Davitti, Protecting the past, preserving the future: Blended finance and the protection of marine cultural heritage in Lamu port (Kenya)
• Rabekoto Andrinjarisoa Heritiana , Study and Implementation of Network System by Fishers’ Community Actor for The Marine Cultural Heritage Survival ;
• Rosalie Hans & Daniel Inoque, Making Maritime Museums Matter in Mozambique;
• John Cooper, Elgidius Ichumbaki & Lucy Blue, Bahari Yetu, Urithi Wetu (Our Ocean, Our Heritage).
• and Jon Henderson spoke about Marine Cultural Heritage and Sustainable Development in the framework of Rising from the Depths:

Group Picture of some of the participants and trainers of the UNESCO workshop on research and management of the underwater cultural heritage for Africa