Commentary: debating ethics in African archaeology

Abstract

In a recent intervention, Alejandro Haber and I have questioned the extent to which discussions under the heading of ethics continue to provide a useful framework within which to conceptualise the complex and politically entangled contexts in which archaeologists work. Notwithstanding these concerns, the papers collected here show why discussions under the heading of ethics in archaeology do still matter. I briefly discuss the argument presented by each paper. In concluding, I ask: what would it mean for African archaeologists to articulate a theory of practice? And does the language of ethics best enable us to do this?

Dans une communication récente, Alejandro Haber et moi nous sommes demandés dans quelle mesure les discussions dans le domaine de la déontologie fournissent encore un canevas utile pour conceptualiser les circonstances complexes et politiquement enchevêtrées dans lesquelles travaillent les archéologues. Ces préoccupations à part, l'excellente collection d'articles rassemblés ici démontrent pourquoi les discussions sur le thème de l'éthique restent encore vitales. Je présente brièvement l'argument qui est avancé dans chaque article. En conclusion, je mets sur la table ces questions: qu'est-ce qui cela impliquerait si les archéologues africanistes en venaient à articuler une théorie de la pratique? Par ailleurs, est-ce que le langage de l'éthique est-il le plus indiqué pour y parvenir?

Keywords:

• Africa
• archaeology
• ethics
• heritage
• theory

Notes on contributor

Nick Shepherd is Associate Professor of African Studies and Archaeology and Head of the African Studies Unit at the University of Cape Town. He was founding editor of the journal Archaeologies: Journal of the World Archaeological Congress and has held visiting professorships at Harvard, Brown and Basel Universities. He has published widely on archaeology and society in Africa and on questions of public history and heritage, including Desire Lines: Space, Memory and Identity in the Post-Apartheid City (Routledge 2007, with Martin Hall and Noeleen Murray) and New South African Keywords (Jacana Media and Ohio University Press 2008, with Steven Robins).