Jacob Marvin and Philipp Rethwisch

• BA (Hons) Archaeology
• Stones and pots along the East African coast: Digital recording and conservation of East African Archaeology

This project aimed to digitise archaeological data from the Swahili coast while also highlighting the need for further digitisation and conservation efforts in the area. Tana Tradition pottery from Kenya was analysed and digitalised by Philipp in cooperation with the National Museum of Kenya whilst Jacob used photogrammetry techniques to create 3D models of architectural remains on Zanzibar. Artefacts like pottery are always at danger of being lost due to limited funding or poor preservation conditions. The structural archaeology is also in danger due to environmental change. Rising sea levels and coastal erosion are a growing problem for archaeologists on the Swahili coast and other coastal areas. Should this evidence be lost or damaged, digitalised records of them might be our only trace of them.

Additionally digitalised records can make the evidence more accessible to researchers even with limited resources with digitised resources being available via the internet.

Funding source: Newcastle University

Project supervisor: Dr Ashley Coutu