The purpose of this thesis was to develop the best practices for completing a comparative analysis for a cultural landscape World Heritage nomination document. The research focused on existing secondary documents including written reports and nomination documents, as well as experts’ opinions. The two objectives of the research were to complete an examination of the existing World Heritage literature and to establish the best practices to undertake the comparative analysis. A comparative analysis is required to provide comparisons of the nominated site with sites that are on the World Heritage List and those that are not. The material emphasis of the World Heritage Committee review process is challenging for associative cultural landscape nominations. The individuality of each landscape and associated culture is what makes traditional sites unique and challenging to compare to other global sites.

The purpose of this thesis was to develop the best practices for completing a comparative analysis for a cultural landscape World Heritage nomination document. The research focused on existing secondary documents including written reports and nomination documents, as well as experts’ opinions. The two objectives of the research were to complete an examination of the existing World Heritage literature and to establish the best practices to undertake the comparative analysis. A comparative analysis is required to provide comparisons of the nominated site with sites that are on the World Heritage List and those that are not. The material emphasis of the World Heritage Committee review process is challenging for associative cultural landscape nominations. The individuality of each landscape and associated culture is what makes traditional sites unique and challenging to compare to other global sites.

Magister Artium - MA / This thesis is a critical study of a conservation project on restoration of a Stone Wall at Bluestone Quarry on Robben Island, a world heritage site. The Stone Wall was built by the ex-political prisoners, in the early 1960s, as part of their hard labour. The thesis mainly focuses on the contestations that arose during the twelve year period of the project (2002 to 2014) among the stakeholders that included the ex-political prisoners, the environmentalists, the heritage managers and South African Heritage Resource Agency. Central to this study was the question, when a restoration project of a significant heritage site is informed by oral history and memories how are the concerns of diverse range of interest groups addressed and resolved? The thesis is grounded in the theoretical frameworks of sites of memory, heritage and conservation. The study involved both archival research and oral history as its research methodologies. The thesis shows that during the restoration project of the Stone Wall, the proposed designs had impacts on authenticity and biodiversity of the site. The various stakeholders that were involved debated and sought ways to influence decisions in resolving these impacts. Where necessary compromises were made. The thesis argues that during the project, oral history and memory work, and by extension the ex-political prisoners, had a significant role in influencing some of the important decisions. Among other things, the thesis seeks to provide a critical understanding of issues of heritage and conservation management on sites that are of cultural/historical significance.

Masters in Public Administration - MPA / In January 1997, Robben Island Museum (RIM) opened its doors to the public as a tourist destination. This was done without any formal management structure or strategic planning, to cope not only with its mandate as the first National Museum of the new democratic South Africa, but also to meet the demand of the great interest of visitors to see this prison where the icon of the liberation struggle, Nelson Mandela was incarcerated for 27 years. This operational take-off without formal administrative management structure and strategic planning was understandable given the social and political transitional climate in the country. The effect thereof as the old adage states ‘failure to plan is planning for failure’ seems to hold true for RIM who is struggling to become a well-managed national heritage site. RIM over the years have been beset with governance and management challenges and enjoyed continual bad publicity. The study’s aim was to bring an understanding of what the major governance and managerial challenges were and to make recommendations to address those. The study was guided by a central research question namely What were the administrative and management challenges of RIM and in what ways did it impact on the operational effectiveness of RIM as a national museum and World heritage site. A number of findings emanated from the study. A key one was that clarity of roles and responsibilities of the council and the management is required. Furthermore, the vision and mission of RIM must inform the formulation of strategies to give effect thereto. This in turn must be the base for the development of an appropriate organisational structure to implement the strategies. A number of recommendation stems from the research. An important one was that appointment must be on the basis of ‘fit for purpose’. This means that staff with the right skills and capacity should be appointed as a matter of priority. In conclusion, the findings of the study could be used by other heritage organisations faced with similar organisational challenges. / Robben Island Museum Training and Development Staff Bursary

The natural vegetation of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS) was classified using Braun-blanquet methodology. This identified 22 distinct plant communities and 2 variants. Sampling took place over two growing seasons with a total of 91 releves being compiled. A stratified random approach to sampling used Land Types as a means of primary area stratification, with terrain position providing the means for further refinement. The grassland comprised of 12 plant communities and 2 variants and the woodland comprised of 10 plant communities. The classification of the woodland areas included some bush clumps associated with the entrances of caves which were also described independently in which seven distinct plant communities were identified A positive linear correlation exists between the size of the cave entrances and the extent to which the surrounding woody vegetation extends. This suggests the likelihood of cave entrance size influencing the surrounding vegetation. / Environmental Sciences / M. Tech. (Nature Conservation)

The natural vegetation of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site (COH WHS) was classified using Braun-blanquet methodology. This identified 22 distinct plant communities and 2 variants. Sampling took place over two growing seasons with a total of 91 releves being compiled. A stratified random approach to sampling used Land Types as a means of primary area stratification, with terrain position providing the means for further refinement. The grassland comprised of 12 plant communities and 2 variants and the woodland comprised of 10 plant communities. The classification of the woodland areas included some bush clumps associated with the entrances of caves which were also described independently in which seven distinct plant communities were identified A positive linear correlation exists between the size of the cave entrances and the extent to which the surrounding woody vegetation extends. This suggests the likelihood of cave entrance size influencing the surrounding vegetation. / Environmental Sciences / M. Tech. (Nature Conservation)

M.Sc. (Geology) / The Cradle of Humankind is a 47 000 hectare demarcated area with over three dozen fossil-bearing cave sites well known for the preservation of fossil evidence of early hominin taxa such as Australopithecus Africanus, Australopithecus Sediba, Paranthropus Robustus and Early Homo. As a result, a database of precise and accurate chronological data for fossil-bearing cave deposits of the Cradle of Humankind (similar to that for East African fossil sites) is very important, but developing one has proven extremely challenging. The main challenge is that the fossil-bearing deposits at the cradle are mainly complex breccias with a chaotic, localized stratigraphy and no association to any volcanic ash beds, unlike the East African deposits which are lacustrine and fluviatile deposits interbedded with volcanic ash layers. However, substantial success has been obtained recently through the combination of U-Pb dating of CaCO₃ speleothems and palaeomagnetic dating (magnetostratigraphy) after many attempts and unconvincing results from techniques such as biostratigraphic correlations, electron spin resonance on teeth and cosmogenic burial dating of the sediments. The problem with U-Pb dating of CaCO₃ speleothems is that this requires samples that are extremely clean (i.e. detrital-free) and have an appreciable U content (close to 1 ppm), and such material is at many sites not available...

Mongomi wa Kolo is a hunter-gatherer rock art site within the Kondoa district of Central Tanzania. The site is part of a large group of rock art sites in Kondoa that were collectively declared a National Monument by the Antiquities Act of Tanzania, enacted in 1964 and amended in 1979. In July 2006, the World Heritage Committee inscribed the rock art of Kondoa as a World Heritage Site, acknowledging its international significance, its authentic beauty and living heritage. Mongomi wa Kolo is a focal point for regular ritual practices among the Bantulanguage speaking Warangi and Wasi/Waragwa communities in Kondoa District, Central Tanzania. The Warangi and Waragwa migrated to this area at the start of the third century. Since this time they have been using Mongomi wa Kolo for traditional ritual ceremonies. Currently, the management of Mongomi wa Kolo has sought to control the ritual ceremonies of Warangi and Wasi/Waragwa communities because some rites are damaging the archaeology and rock paintings of the site. This control has led to a conflict between local ritual practitioners and authorities responsible for heritage management. Management of living heritage is new to the Tanzanian cultural heritage authority. This study explores the implications of including living heritage in the management at the archaeological World Heritage Site of Mongomi wa Kolo. Examples are drawn from other World Heritage Sites that manage living heritage. Specifically this study considers how best to integrate living heritage within the management of the Mongomi wa Kolo rock painting site. It then discusses the challenges of adapting the Tanzanian Antiquities legislation to cover living heritage. This study will be achieved through a review of the history of the management of living heritage, international and national legislation protecting living heritage, and interviews undertaken with elders, traditional practitioners, communities around Kolo and nearby villages, and with staff of the Antiquities Department.

The aim of this essay was to investigate the effects of adopting a site to the UNESCOs World Heritage List. Thefocus laid on the example of the Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland, which was the most recent Swedishadoption. With the question of impact of the World Heritage List in mind, the region of Hälsingland became themain focus. The study was made with particular focus on Gästgivars, a farm located in the municipality ofBollnäs, to which the theory of social life of things was applied. The result of the World Heritage was, in the caseof Gästgivars, an increase of the cultural value and social status.This case study has shown that the impact of the nomination has not been immense, but suggests that longtermeffects can show. The nomination to the World Heritage has led to some small changes in how thefarmhouses are managed, for example an increase of guided tours of a site. Although there were some opinionson how it was handled, World Heritage site recognition is looked upon as something positive. In this studyUNESCO and ICOMOS, in addition to other governing bodies, appeared to be authoritarian in some aspects,mainly when it came to local decisions concerning the World Heritage site. Thus, it has also shown that thoseinstitutions were not the only authoritarians regarding the handling of the site.The adoption of the Decorated Farmhouses could contribute to a feeling of community, or to create asymbol of the region and municipality, or perhaps a feeling of local identity and community. On an economiclevel, the World Heritage designation could contribute to additional income for the region and secondary effects.The case study is not completely a part of the experience industry which shows that cultural economy had littleeffects. Furthermore, the study showed that the adoption of the Decorated Farmhouses of Hälsingland to theWorld Heritage List can promote the view upon culture in small cities and an alternation of the cultural life.To analyze possible interactions due to a site being added to the World Heritage list has succesfully beenperformed with qualitative methods and interviews. The interviews became the primary material of the study andwas backed by statistics of the number of visitors to a site, some documents, and historical facts.

The First Nation community of Poplar River in Northern Manitoba is using a UNESCO World Heritage Site nomination to assist with meeting local needs. Going beyond the expected, non-renewable resource development, Asatiwisipe First Nation is taking control over its own developmental plans, and forging an ecologically sustainable vision of community-controlled economic and political development. This initiative is an escape from the ‘progress trap’ where Indigenous resource stewardship practices will guide sustainable community economic development. This thesis explores the application of intangible cultural heritage as a lens for looking at the culture/nature discussion, food sovereignty, Indigenous resource management as well as Aboriginal and treaty rights. Based on longitudinal research over the past eight years, this dissertation is a collection of interviews and narratives from community members, personal experiences and policy research. Despite systemic Eurocentrism and many challenges, permanent protection of the Poplar River Community Conserved Area through the World Heritage Site nomination is perhaps the best solution for the community as it is an initiative that has been instigated by the First Nation itself.