Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Youth Development Programme 2011

Looking out at the sea as I drove to Simon’s Town on a stormy Friday morning, I wondered if the group I was going to join had any idea of the extraordinary world that lay beneath the waves or the extraordinary colours and forms of the sea life? Were they fearful of predatory sharks that populate that coastline? Had they any idea of the number of ships that had been wrecked over the past 500 years, or any sense of the rich archive that lies submerged beneath the waters.

The South African coastline extends for about 3 000 km from the border with Namibia to Mozambique, linking the east and west coasts of Africa and connecting our continent to the Indian, Atlantic and Southern oceans. The seas around South Africa contain a wealth of archaeological sites and remains. However, while maritime archaeological endeavour has, to date, largely focused on shipwrecks, the character of the resource is far more complex and diverse.Despite their differing environmental contexts, marine, underwater and land based archaeological sites should be considered as a seamless physical and intellectual continuum. As a result of changing sea levels and human activity, some sites that were originally on land are now submerged; some that were previously beneath the sea are now exposed; some, such as fish-traps are situated in the inter-tidal zone and experience cyclical inundation and exposure by the tides; others such as harbours extend from dry land into the sea.  Shipwrecks may be found far offshore. They are, however, part of a wider cultural landscape that may extend someway inland.Inland sites may be similarly affected by natural forces that effect changes to the levels of rivers and lakes or by human activity such as the construction of dams and once-terrestrial sites may now be partially or fully submerged.

Arriving at the False Bay Yacht Club, I found the group waiting in the rain, the tension was palpable. Young men walked around, full of bravado, in their unfamiliar wetsuits, a couple looked on in trepidation, experienced divers offered reassurance. 

A small group tip-toed into the harbour, the bravest among them struck out for the deeper waters, and the more tentative sunk to their knees before putting their faces into the water, testing their goggles and snorkels.

The first batch of ten learners piled into a rubber duck, holding tight as they left the safe waters of the harbour. Turning sharply and coming to a standstill near the shore, close to a large seaweed-and barnacle-covered structure protruding from the water; the engine block of the Clan Stuart, a ship wrecked in the early years of the 20th century.

Safe on the Sea Lab, one of the Institute for Maritime Technology’s research vessels, I watched as the learners made their way carefully into the water. For many, this was their first experience of the sea and I watched in admiration as they made their way bravely through the water. Accompanied by a group of highly qualified divers, ably assisted by Ratanang Maremere, an ex-Navy diver who co-ordinates the Maritime project, and held secure in their wetsuits and life-jackets, there was little possibility that they would sink. But, it was an unfamiliar environment. As one learner said, “It was scary, real scary, because you never knew what was swimming around underneath you!”

The young divers were joined by others involved in the Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Programme: Sibongile van Damme, CEO of the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA); Jonathan Sharfman, South Africa’s only maritime archaeologist and head of the Marine and Underwater Cultural Heritage Unit; Robert Parthesius, director of the Centre for International Heritage Activities, and; Joan Wiegman, The Netherlands Embassy head of Press Culture, while the Department of Arts and Culture Director General kept a close eye on proceedings from the Sea Lab A.

After some exploration the ‘divers’ made their way back onto the Sea Lab, some exclaiming noisily on their accomplishments, others quietly exultant, and a few pensive. For all it was, as many said later, “a life-changing experience”, opening up a whole new world. For those like me, who grew up near the sea, it brought home the wonder of the resource that we sometimes take for granted.

“Our department is cognisant of the lack of expertise in maritime archaeology; hence we support initiatives from our institutions (SAHRA and RIM) in forging strategic partnerships with international institutions like Centre for International Heritage Activities based in the Netherlands and Continental organisations such as the African World Heritage Fund. This support is further enhanced by our commitment to annually fund the underwater cultural heritage youth educational outreach programme which we hope will encourage the young people with us today to make this a career of choice. This Ladies and Gentleman is an affirmation that our maritime and underwater cultural heritage is not just a national treasure but an international asset that we should jointly strive to protect and preserve.” Deputy Minister Joe Phaahla

Back on the shore, proceedings continued on the SAS Amatola, where Arts and Culture Deputy Minister Joe Phaahla and Rear Admiral WHO Teuteberg of the SA Navy delivered addresses emphasising the importance of marine and underwater cultural heritage and Ms Joan Wiegman, of The Netherlands Embassy, reminded the audience of the long-time relationship between South Africa and The Netherlands.

While the young divers focused theri attention on the archive beneath the seas, South Africa’s underwater cultural heritage is not limited only to physical sites and evidence: it resides too in the pre- and post-colonial oral traditions relating to the coast; to the rituals and practices and knowledge systems associated with the sites, structures, artefacts and other remains; the legacy of interaction between indigenous and non-indigenous people; and the ongoing exploitation of coastal and inland water resources by local communities. Underwater cultural heritage has historical significance and the potential to contribute appreciably to our understanding of our past, and the present, and to our identity as a nation.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

South Africa’s marine and underwater cultural heritage

South Africa’s maritime heritage is a resource of both local and global importance. As the halfway point between Europe and the Far East, South Africa’s ports and refreshment stations attracted people from all over the world. Traders, explorers, slaves, farmers and fortune seekers arrived on these shores bringing with them their customs and culture, blending with the local traditions and creating the cosmopolitan melting pot that makes the South African way of life unique in the modern world. 

But the underwater cultural heritage is not only related to the influence of travellers from afar. South Africans have themselves engaged in a long relationship with the country’s oceans, rivers and lakes, harvesting abundant marine resources for thousands of years.

A stone age ‘toolkit’ estimated to be 100 000 years old - found stored in two perlemoen (abalone) shells at Blombas Cave near Stilbaai on the Western Cape coast, has created worldwide interest. As Professor Christopher Henshilwood from the Institute for Human Evolution at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg says, “This discovery represents an important benchmark in the evolution of complex human cognition (mental processes) in that it shows that humans had the conceptual ability to source, combine and store substances that were then possibly used to enhance their social practices.”

Sites such as Mapungubwe, at the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers and Lake Fundudzi, a lake sacred to the Venda, demonstrate the significance of bodies of water found inland.
The Marine and Underwater Cultural Heritage Youth Development Programme

This programme showcases the scope and importance of MUCH throughout South Africa. By bringing together learners from a multitude of backgrounds and from all nine provinces, the programme highlights the relevance of water and its role in South African heritage, culture and history.

The Maritime Archaeology Programme

In 2009 SAHRA, the Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands and the Centre for International Heritage Activities launched a Dutch-funded Maritime Archaeology Development Programme. This programme, which aims to protect and manage maritime and underwater cultural heritage, plays an important role in developing capacity, implementing education and coastal awareness progammes, and stimulating research.

The Dutch Mutual Cultural Heritage Policy

The Dutch were the first Europeans to colonise South Africa, setting up a refreshment station at the Cape. Since then, the two nations have shared strong ties, which are currently being explored through the Dutch Mutual Cultural Heritage Policy (MCHP). This policy provides funding and expertise for research in previous Dutch colonies and there is a strong focus on creating local capacity and initiating sustainable projects. The overall objective of the MCHP is to “collaborate on the sustainable maintenance of common cultural heritage, on the basis of the reciprocal political and substantive involvement”.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION: SAHRA Media Release

 

 

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