Zamani Project - The African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes Database
Zamani, a research group at the University of Cape Town, acquires, models, presents and manages spatial and other data of cultural heritage sites. The present focus of the Zamani project is Africa with the principal objective of developing “The African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes Database”. Zamani is the Swahili word for ‘the past’.
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The Zamani initiative was conceptualised in the Geomatics Division of the University of Cape Town by Professor Heinz Rüther in 2001 in collaboration with ITHAKA and Aluka [now an initiative of JSTOR] as the “African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes Database” in 2004 with a number of sequential grants from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. The project developed out of a long history of heritage documentation in the Geomatics division reaching from conventional mapping of archaeological sites in the early stages of the project to advanced digital modeling of complex sites in its present phase.
The documentation project aims to capture spatial information to create a permanent record of important heritage sites for restoration and conservation purposes and as a record for future generations. The project seeks to provide material for education, research and site management and increase international awareness of African heritage on a not-for-profit basis.
Spatial data of architectural structures and historical landscapes are acquired by means of laser scanning, conventional surveys, GPS surveys and photogrammetric imaging with calibrated cameras. Satellite images, aerial photography and full-dome panorama photography are also employed as are contextual photography and videos. The data are captured by the project team during field campaigns. The acquired data are processed to produce Geographic Information Systems (GIS), 3D computer models, maps, architectural sections and building plans and interactive panorama tours of the heritage sites. Sites are seen in the context of their physical environment and therefore landscapes surrounding sites are modelled in 3D using satellite and aerial imagery wherever possible.
1. Mandara Hills: DGB I & II
2. Lalibela: 13 rock-hewn churches
3. Axum: Stele-field
4. Elmina: Elmina Castle
5. Besease/Kumasi: Ashanti Shrine
6. Lamu: Fortress, Swahili Building and historical street scene
7. Shela: Mosque
8. Gede: Palace, Mosque and buildings
9. Namoratung'a: Stelae field
10. Turkana Village: village huts
11. Tot Village: village huts
12. Djenne: Great Mosque
13. Timbuktu: Friday Mosque
14. Mozambique Island: Fortress and Chapel
15. Mapungubwe: Iron age site of Mapungubwe Hill, plus rock art site
16. Pretoria: Union Buildings
17. Cape Town: Good Hope Castle
18. Wonderwerk Cave: cave with early human occupation
19. Cederberg: 6 rock art sites
20. Saldhana: Stone age site
21. Langebaan: Paleontological site
22. Drakensberg: 2 rock art sites
23. Musawwarat es-Sufra: Great Enclosure temple complex and Temple of Apedemak
24. Kilwa Kisiwani: Fortress, Mosque, Palace
25. Songo Mnara: Palace, Mosque, Buildings, Graveyard
26. Engaruka: Drystone structures
27. Stone Town in Zanzibar: 2 Persian baths and Beit Al-Amani
28. Nyero: 5 rock art sites 29. Mukongolo: 3 rock art sites 30. Kampiri: rock art site 31. Lolui Island: rock art site 32. Kokoro: 3 rock art sites
33. Great Zimbabwe: Great Enclosure and Hill complex
1. Algeria, Tassili: Engravings (TARA)
2. Egypt, Luxor: Valley of the Queens (Getty Conservation Institute, L.A.)
3. Jordan, Petra: SIQ canyon and tombs in co-operation with UNESCO
4. Tanzania, Laetoli: Hominid Trackway (Getty Conservation Institute, L.A.)
5. United Arab Emirates, Al Ain: Archaeological site (ADACH, Abu Dhabi)
The database is conceptualised as a holistic system and therefore spatial data acquired by the Zamani group are augmented by contextual non-spatial data contributed to JSTOR by various additional partners and organizations. This entire set of materials is made available to the scholarly community via JSTOR's Aluka initiative. Access to this collection is free to all institutions and organizations in Africa and portions of the developing world. Libraries and academic institutions outside of Africa can license access to these collections via JSTOR. The Zamani Project website provides a showcase for the data it produces. Subsets of the 3D data, such as panorama tours and flythrough animations can be viewed on the site as well as examples of plans, sections and photographs.
The African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes Database exclusively funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, New York. Administrative support, office space and other academic services are provided by the University of Cape Town and the Geomatics Division at UCT. Additional funds are generated through documentation work for the Getty Conservation Institute, Los Angeles and the World Monuments Fund, New York. In the early stages of the project UNESCO provided financial support for documentation in Lalibela.
The Zamani team members comprises four Scientific Officers (Christoph Held, Ralph Schroeder, Roshan Bhurtha and Stephen Wessels) under the leadership of the Principal Investigator, Prof. Heinz Rüther.