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Traces of enslavement - a forgotten history of indigenous civilians in British concentration camps during the South African War, 1899-1902
Conference
Published on
04 October 2014
Updated on
19 June 2017
Colloquia
The Archaeology of Violence
International colloquium organized by Inrap and the Museum of Louvre-Lens.
October 2, 3 and 4, 2104 at La Scène du Louvre-Lens
The archaeology of violence: wartime violence, mass violence
by Garth Benneyworth,Research Associate of the McGregor Museum (South Africa)
British concentration camps effectively enslaved over 110 000 indigenous civilians during the conflict. The British army forced women and children into agricultural labour as a war resource. Many thousands died. The ‘Traces’ project used the military and other archives, archaeological surveys and excavations, and oral history resources and uncovered seven such camps. ‘Traces’ demonstrates a methodology and reconstructs a historical narrative that redresses a forgotten history while offering insight into the global narrative of twentieth century ‘Total War'.
Authors : Garth Benneyworth et David Morris
Garth Benneyworth is a Research Associate of the McGregor Museum and published military historian. He is a former councillor of the Nelson Mandela National Museum and director of Site Solutions™ a research and strategy based consultancy. Garth has a MA degree in Heritage Studies.
David Morris as archaeologist at Kimberley's McGregor Museum, combines a research focus on rock art with a broad interest in material traces of the local past. David is widely published and he promotes public archaeology through sites and museum projects. David has a PhD from the University of the Western Cape.
Bibliography
Garth Benneyworth is a Research Associate of the McGregor Museum and published military historian. He is a former councillor of the Nelson Mandela National Museum and director of Site Solutions™ a research and strategy based consultancy. Garth has a MA degree in Heritage Studies.
David Morris as archaeologist at Kimberley's McGregor Museum, combines a research focus on rock art with a broad interest in material traces of the local past. David is widely published and he promotes public archaeology through sites and museum projects. David has a PhD from the University of the Western Cape.
Bibliography
- Garth Benneyworth,The Native Refugee Department Camps: A Historical Overview, 2006.
- Barnaby Phillips, Forgotten victims of the Boer War, BBC World News, 29 November 2001.
- Jana Engelbrecht, Boer War black camps uncovered, 12 April 2008.
- Derrick M Nault,'What signify these dark races to us?' Progress, dehumanization and black concentration camps in early twentieth century Southern Africa, University of Calgary, Canada 2013.