Archaeology has evolved: Four eras of understanding Africa’s past
Archaeologist Tim Forssman explores the evolution of African archaeology, categorizing the discipline into four distinct phases from the colonial era to the present. The book examines how changing political and scientific contexts have fundamentally altered how researchers interpret the continent's history.
Why it matters
It provides critical context on how historical narratives are constructed and the importance of decolonizing academic disciplines like archaeology.
Benin bronzes collected by the British when they raided and destroyed Benin City in 1897. Wikimedia Commons , CC BY Archaeology has evolved: Four eras of understanding Africa’s past Published: August 11, 2026 10:13am EDT https://theconversation.com/archaeology-has-evolved-four-eras-of-understanding-africas-past-287886 https://theconversation.com/archaeology-has-evolved-four-eras-of-understanding-africas-past-287886 Link copied Share article Share article
Copy link Email Bluesky Facebook WhatsApp Messenger LinkedIn X (Twitter) Print article
What is the past? It may seem a simple question to answer, but it is more complex than we might think at first. As science, politics, technologies and ways of thinking change, so does our understanding of what went before.
Tim Forssman is an archaeologist who has conducted research in South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho and Mozambique. He recently completed a book about how the history of archaeology in Africa has shaped the way we understand the past. Here he shares some thoughts about why the discipline matters.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in