Archaeology, and especially maritime archaeology, has always been viewed as a male-dominated field in the past. Here at the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), however, we know that there are many women who have specialised in archaeology - in fact, the women in SAHRA’s Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage (MUCH) unit outnumber the men, and this has been the case for the past four years. It is important to highlight the important role of women within the heritage sector and maritime archaeology.
Briege Williams (Heritage Officer) and Lesa la Grange (Acting Manager) in their dive gear just off Kalk Bay (SAHRA MUCH Unit)
The field of maritime archaeology in South Africa has several inherent difficulties. One of the biggest challenges is that there are limited opportunities for formal training specialising in MUCH; currently no universities offer maritime archaeology as part of their curriculum. The University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) are two major centres of archaeological instruction but do not provide any specific maritime archaeological training. As a result, aspiring maritime archaeologists should demonstrate their...
