Archaeology and Dam Projects in Lesotho

Abstract An increasing number of large dam projects present a major threat to cultural heritage in much of Africa. This paper asks how such destructive projects can be held to account; not only to mitigate damage, but also to develop local heritage management structures and increase public awareness. It focuses on the situation in Lesotho, which has a history of large dam projects, but a severely under-resourced archaeological and heritage management community. The main emphasis is on a recent and ongoing project in advance of the Metolong Dam in western Lesotho that was founded with training and skills transfer as a primary aim. In addition to some practical suggestions for Lesotho that take into account its particular geopolitical context, this case study brings three broader interrelated issues into view, none of which are new, but all of which deserve fresh attention: the unsuitability of a solely commercial, contract-based response to the threat from development; the negative effects of using unskilled 'labour'; and the imperative to develop an archaeology that is relevant to and actively involves the rural African communities within which we work.