Creating an African tourist experience at the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

Die Skep van 'n Afrika toeristebelewenis by die Wieg van die Mensdom Wêreld Erfenisterrein

Maheshvari Naidu

Ms Maheshvari Naidu lectures in Anthropology at the School of Anthropology, Gender and Historical Studies, University of KwaZulu Natal. Her research interests include Anthropology of Tourism, Cultural Heritage and Identity, Issues of Alterity and the Tourist Experience. She was recently awarded a SAASTA grant and designed and co-ordinated an African Origins Project that focused on African identity and palaeo-heritage

ABSTRACT

This article considers the example of palaeo-heritage tourism at Sterkfontein Cave, situated in a geographic area designated the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, or Cradle for short. The article looks at how a particular "African" tourist experience is constructed through the architectural vocabulary and the narrative built around the Sterkfontein Cave, which, with the adept use of a particular theory of human origins, allows the visitor to identify with a trajectory of a shared prehistory and shared humanity. These appear to be constructed in an attempt to redefine the visitor's image of himself or herself in terms of a shared African history. This sense of a shared history is attempted through the architectural design of the interpretive centre, the virile narrative contained in the logo of the centre, and the process of appropriating seminal fossil artefacts found here. The constructed tourist experience is itself fed by a larger emerging discourse to rearticulate the identity of the African.

Sleutelwoorde: Afrika; argitektuur; kommodifikasie; erfenis; fossiele; identiteit; logo; narratief; paleo-antropologie; paleo-toerisme; toeristebelewenis; tumulus; voorstelling

OPSOMMING

Hierdie artikel handel oor die voorbeeld van paleo-erfenis toerisme wat by die Sterkfonteingrotte in 'n geografiese gebied bekend as die Wieg van die Mensdom Wêreld Erfenisterrein, of kortweg die Wieg, aangetref word. Die artikel ondersoek hoe 'n spesifieke "Afrika" toeristebelewenis gekonstrueer word deur die gebruik van n argitektoniese woordeskat en die relaas gebou om die Sterkfonteingrotte, wat deur die vaardige gebruik van n bepaalde teorie oor die oorsprong van die mens, die besoeker lei om te identifiseer met n trajek van n gedeelde voorgeskiedenis en gedeelde menslikheid. Skynbaar word dit gekonstrueer as poging om die besoeker se beeld van hom- of haarself te herdefinieer volgens n gemeenskaplike Afrikageskiedenis. Hierdie sin van n gedeelde geskiedenis word geskep deur die argitektoniese ontwerp van die besoekersentrum, die kragtige narratief opgesluit in die logo van die sentrum, en die proses waardeur die uiters belangrike fossiele wat hier aangetref is, toegeëien word. Die gekonstrueerde toeristebelewenis word verder aangevul deur n groter opkomende diskoers oor die herdefinisie van die identiteit van die Afrikaan.

Key words: African; architecture; commoditisation; fossils; heritage; identity; logo; narrative; palaeo-anthropology; palaeo-tourism; representation; tourist experience; tumulus

 Full text available only in PDF format.

1. N. Macleod, "Cultural Tourism: Aspects of Authenticity and Commodification", in K. Smith and M. Robinson (eds), Cultural Tourism in a Changing World, Politics, Participation and (Re)presentation (Channel View Publications, England, 2006), p 180.         [ Links ]
2. K.A. Burnett, "Heritage, Authenticity and History", in S. Drummond and I. Yeoman (eds), Quality Issues in Heritage Visitor Attractions (Heinemann, Oxford, 2001), p 47.         [ Links ]
3. D. Lowenthal, The Past is a Foreign Country (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1985).         [ Links ]
4. C. Kelly, "Heritage Tourism Politics in Ireland", in Smith & Robinson (eds), Cultural Tourism, p 36.         [ Links ]
5. Lowenthal, The Past is a Foreign Country.
6. D. MacCannell, "Staged Authenticity: Arrangements of Social Space in Tourist Settings", American Journal of Sociology, 79, pp 89-603;         [ Links ] D. MacCannell, The Tourist A New Theory of the Leisure Class (Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, 1976), pp 91-107.         [ Links ]
7. L. Witz, C. Rassool and G. Minkley, "Repackaging the Past for South African Tourism", in G. Corsane (ed), Heritage, Museums and Culture An Introductory Reader (Routledge, New York, 2005), p 308.         [ Links ]
8. G. Schutte, "Tourists and Tribes in the New South Africa", Ethnohistory, 50, 3, 2003, p 473.         [ Links ]
9. R. Hewison, "Heritage: An Interpretation", in D. Uzzell (ed) Heritage Interpretation I - The Natural and Built Environment (Bethaven, London and New York, 1989), pp 15-23.         [ Links ]
10. L. Davie, "New-Look Sterkfontein puts Life into Fossils", http://www.Joburg.org (accessed February 2006).         [ Links ]
11. See online articles, both by L. Davie, "Showcasing the Cradle of Humankind", http://www.Joburg.org (accessed February 2006); L. Davie, "Maropeng Brings Fossils to Life", http://www.Joburg.org (accessed December 2006).
12. Mrs Ples will be discussed in greater detail in the latter part of the article.
13. http://www.everywheremag.com/articles/269 (accessed March 2007).
14. D. Graham, The Citizen, 24 August 2006, http://www.citizen.co.za/index (accessed March 2008).         [ Links ]
15. P. Cromberge, Engineering Online, http://www.engineeringnews.co.za/article (accessed March 2008).         [ Links ]
16. VISI Magazine, http://www.visi.co.za/Frontend/InsideAndLifestyle (accessed March 2008).
17. Davie, "Maropeng Brings Fossils to Life"; Davie, "Showcasing the Cradle".
18. Davie, "Maropeng Brings Fossils to Life"; Davie, "Showcasing the Cradle".
19. E.M. Bruner, Culture on Tour Ethnographies of Travel (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2005).         [ Links ]
20. S. Marschall and B. Kearney, Opportunities for Relevance Architecture in the New South Africa (Unisa Press, Pretoria, 2000), p 167.         [ Links ]
21. Marschall & Kearney, Opportunities for Relevance, pp 170-171.
22. http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/architecture (accessed March 2008).
23. http://www.southafrica.info/about/arts/architecture (accessed March 2008).
24. R. Sharpley, Travel and Tourism (Sage, London, 2006), p 86.         [ Links ]
25. W. Corkern, "Heritage Tourism: Where Public and History Don't Always Meet", American Studies International, 42, 2/3, 2004, p 7.         [ Links ]
26. B. Graham, G.J. Ashworth and J.E. Tunbridge, Geography of Heritage (Arnold, London, 2000), p 20.         [ Links ]
27. D. Phillips, "Narrativised Spaces: The Functions of Story in Theme Parks", in D. Crouch (ed), Leisure/Tourism Geographies (Routledge, New York, 2001), pp 91-108.         [ Links ]
28. H. Graham, "The Brand Images of Tourism Destinations: A Study of the Saliency of Organic Images", The Journal of Product and Brand Management, 13, 1, 2004, p 7.         [ Links ]
29. Maropeng web site, http://www.discoveryourself.co.za/sterkfontein/source/content/media/media/htm (accessed January 2006).
30. P. Boniface and P.J. Fowler, Heritage and Tourism (Routledge, New York, 1996), p xii.         [ Links ]
31. Boniface & Fowler, Heritage and Tourism, p xi.
32. See online articles for comments by the Brand Manager of Maropeng, Chrissi Brink and Maropeng CEO Rob King. Online articles both by Davie, "Showcasing the Cradle" and "Maropeng Brings Fossils to Life".
33. The official pamphlet of Maropeng and Sterkfontein, handed to the visitors and part of a publicity pack given to members of the media.
34. Maropeng web site, http://www.discoveryourself.co.za (accessed January 2006).         [ Links ]
35. M. Pickford and B. Senut, "The geological and faunal context of Late Miocene hominid remains from Lukeino, Kenya", C.R. Academy Science Series, 2, 332, pp 145-152.         [ Links ]
36. M. Brunet, "A New Hominid from the Upper Miocene of Chad, Central Africa," NATURE, 418, 2002, pp 145-151.         [ Links ]
37. Kelly, "Heritage Tourism Politics in Ireland", p 43.
38. Graham, Ashworth & Tunbridge, Geography of Heritage, p 33
39. Don Johanson, an eminent palaeo-scientist and the discoverer of the world famous fossil, Australopithecus Afarensis, known as Lucy and his discussion of the Out-of-Africa Theory.
40. D.C. Johanson, Lucy the Beginnings of Humankind (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1990), pp 40-70;         [ Links ] D.C. Johanson and B. Edgar, From Lucy to Language (Simon and Schuster, New York, 1996), pp 38-39, 46.         [ Links ]
41. The narrative of the pamphlet of Maropeng.
42. Maropeng pamphlet.
43. S. Marschall, "Forging National Identity: Institutionalizing Foundation Myths through Monuments", South African Journal of Cultural History, 19, 1, 2005, p 19.         [ Links ]
44. Marschall, "Forging National Identity", p 19.
45. R. Rashidi's address entitled "Africa's Roots of Humanity and Civilization", in 2000 for Africa Commemoration Day, http://www.cwo.coml-lucomi/runoko.html (accessed March 2006).
46. http://www.southafrica.info/pls/procs/iac.page.
47. Maropeng web site, http://www.discoveryourself.co.za/sterkfontein/source/content/media/media/htm (accessed January 2006).         [ Links ]
48. B. Hilton-Barber and L. Berger, Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind (Wits Press, Johannesburg, 2002), p 4.         [ Links ]
49. Hilton-Barber & Berger, Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind, p 5.
50. Hilton-Barber & Berger, Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind, p 5.
51. Hilton-Barber & Berger, Field Guide to the Cradle of Humankind, p 5.
52. Graham, Ashworth & Tunbridge, Geography of Heritage, p 18.
53. L.K. Richter, "The Politics of Heritage Tourism Emerging Issue for the New Millennium", in Corsane (ed), Heritage, Museums and Culture, p 257.         [ Links ]
54. P.V. Tobias, Q. Wang, and J.L. Cormack, "The Establishment of Palaeo-anthropology in South Africa and China: with Special Reference to the Remarkably Similar Roles of Raymond A. Dart and Davidson Black", Transactions of the Royal Society of South Africa, 56, 1, 2001, p 1.
55. Tobias, Wang & Cormack, "The Establishment of Palaeo-anthropology", pp 1-2.
56. Also see: Davie, "Maropeng Brings Fossils to Life".
57. Graham, Ashworth & Tunbridge, Geography of Heritage, p 236.
58. C. Kruger and M. van Heerden, "The Voortrekker Monument Heritage Site: A New Statement of Significance", Historia, 50, 2, 2002, p 242.         [ Links ]
59. Witz, Rassool & Minkley, "Repackaging the Past", p 308.
60. Witz, Rassool & Minkley, "Repackaging the Past", p 309.
61. J. Zuma, Address at the National Heritage Council Civil Society Conference, http://www.anc.org.za/ancdocs/history/zuma/2005/jz0312.html (accessed January 2006).         [ Links ]
62. Zuma, Address at the National Heritage Council Civil Society Conference.
63. S. Goudie, F. Kahn and D. Kilian, "Tourism Beyond Apartheid: Black Empowerment and Identity in the 'New' South Africa", in P.A. Wells (ed), Keys to the Marketplace Problems and Issues in Cultural and Heritage Tourism (Hisarlik, UK, 1996), p 70.         [ Links ]
64. Goudie, Kahn & Kilian, "Tourism Beyond Apartheid", p 66.
65. This specimen was not discovered in Sterkfontein, but in the Makapans Valley at Taung, hence the name. See: Tobias, Wang & Cormack, "The Establishment of Palaeo-anthropology".
66. This specimen is now accepted as an adolescent male specimen. Originally named Mrs Ples, as it was thought to be a female, it is now Master Ples, but the popular name has stuck.
67. The fossil nicknamed Little Foot is still embedded in the breccia even after ten years of painstaking excavation.
68. See Tobias, Wang & Cormack, "The Establishment of Palaeo-anthropology".
69. P. Davidson, "Museums and the re-shaping of Memory", in Corsane (ed), Heritage, Museums and Culture, p 192.         [ Links ]
70. Communicated to me on 11 September 2007, when I was interviewing him for a video documentary I was making as part of an African Origins Project. The video funded by a grant from the South African Association for Advancement of Science and Technology (SAASTA), was designed as a virtual tour of Sterkfontein and Maropeng and was eventually made available to Anthropology students.
71. K.M. Adams, "Public Interest Anthropology in Heritage Sites: Writing Culture and Righting Wrongs", International Journal of Heritage Studies, 11, 5, 2005, pp 436.         [ Links ]
72. S. Marschall, "Making Money with Memories: The Fusion of Heritage, Tourism and Identity Formation in South Africa", Historia, 50, 1, 2005, p 103.         [ Links ]