Bones of ancestors returned in Africa

Reuters is now allowing embedding of video clips. In this one bodies exhumed from a Mapungubwe archaeological site in northern South Africa are being returned for reburial. It’s a staggeringly good idea.

I didn’t think it would be. As far as I understand it Mapungubwe was one of the most complex Iron Age societies in Africa. It had extensive trading links with other societies. At the same time you have to look at the context of the excavation. The bones were taken in 1933. It might have been archaeology, but it was also about gaining control of the land for the Whites. At the same time re-burying the bones would, I thought, mean losing information about a major feature of African history and the local communities would be victims again. Actually this is not the case because the reburial is rather clever.

The remains are being buried in sealed containers in sealed vaults. This satisfies the local people that the bones are being reburied. At the same time it will hopefully leave them safe should they wish to investigate their past – but the next time it should be with their consent.