IN AN attempt to preserve the site where the skull of the Broken Hill Man was discovered 89 years ago in Kabwe, the National Heritage Conservation Commission (NHCC) is exploring ways of establishing an interpretation centre at the site where the fossil was discovered.This move is also aimed at recognising the archaeological and historical significance of both the skull of the Broken Hill Man and the Kabwe site.NHCC is concerned that if nothing is done to give the site the deserved prominence, any remaining links to the skull now under the custody of The Natural History Museum in London in the United Kingdom will eventually disappear.
The site remains an important archaeological site not only for Zambia, but the rest of the world as well because that is where the skull was discovered and has significant information on the development of humans.A recent on-the-spot check at the site located adjacent to the closed Zambia Consolidated Copper Mines lead and zinc mine and the Railway Systems of Zambia main workshops revealed traces of it being a mine decades ago, but there are no signs that it is a national heritage site where an important archaeological and historical discovery was made.The site is not secured and its existence is threatened by stone quarrying, land erosion and development of industries around the old mine.
NHCC acting director Collins Chipote says the old Broken Hill mine is an important archaeological site in the history of humankind, and this is why it is a national heritage site in Zambia.Mr Chipote said although the site has not received attention in the past, the NHCC plans to secure the area and partner with the Kabwe Municipal Council (KMC) and other stakeholders to ensure that it is a recognised archaeological and historical site.This, he said, will be done by establishing an interpretation information centre at the old mine and singling out the area to highlight its importance.
“Such findings are rare and the areas where they have been discovered are important areas, which should enjoy protection.“It is in the thinking of NHCC that we need to understand the extent of the area so that we know how we are going to mark the land.“The idea is to put up an interpretation centre and have the area signed to indicate that it is an important site,” Mr Chipote said.Mr Chipote says that although the skull of the Broken Hall Man is resident in The Natural History Museum in London and is at the centre of controversy regarding its ownership, the Kabwe site remains a very important site for Zambia and the world in general.When the site is developed, it will create an understanding of who the Broken Hill Man is and further prompt many Zambians to appreciate why the discovery of the specimen in 1921 in then little known Northern Rhodesia - a former British colony - put the country on the world map.
“Even if the skull of the Broken Hill Man is not in Zambia, we cannot neglect the site in Kabwe where it was discovered. It is a very important site to Zambia and the world of archaeology.“Therefore, that site is still important, but it needs to be rehabilitated so that it can also be a tourist attraction,” Mr Chipote said.
He noted that in other countries such as Ethiopia and South Africa, where similar discoveries were made, the people have taken an interest in participating in securing and developing the sites, thus positively attaching importance to them. Such archaeological sites have proved to be potential tourist destinations and research areas on the development of humankind.
According to Mr Chipote, what is encouraging, although the site has not been developed, is that it is still intact and the focus of the NHCC is to facilitate its development.Information obtained from Kabwe Municipal Council indicates that Tom Zwiglaar, a Swiss miner, discovered a skull (later named as Broken Hill Man or Kabwe cranium) at Broken Hill mine in Mutwe wa Nsofu area, in a cave, during mining excavations with his team.The discovery is believed to be the first human ancestor to be found in Africa.Also discovered with the skull were parts of the face of the second individual, a thigh bone, shin bone, part of the bones of the pelvis, a sacrum, part of the bone of the upper arm, some animal bones, some stones and primitive bone implements.The government, through the NHCC, wants to ensure that Zambians do not only know about the skull having been discovered in Zambia, but that they are also aware about the Kabwe site.And the government, through diplomatic channels and international conventions, is pursuing the return of the fossil to Zambia.This is despite the British authorities insisting that the United Kingdom has the right to the skull because Broken Hill Man was an ancestor of humanity.
Tourism, Environment and Natural Resources Minister Catherine Namugala says, however, that the skull belongs to Zambia because there is historical evidence, which includes the Kabwe site where it was discovered.Ms Namugala said establishment of a Broken Hill Man interpretation centre in Kabwe is an important development in preserving the site and providing information about the Broken Hill Man.Ms Namugala said in an interview that despite Britain’s position that Zambia cannot solely claim to own it because Broken Hill Man was an ancestor of humanity, the government’s position is that the skull belongs to Zambia .“We (Government) strongly believe that Broken Hill Man belongs to Zambia . For us it’s our pride, we are proud that we have such a heritage,” Ms Namugala said.She said Government will continue lobbying for the return of the skull to its native land because it has the responsibility of doing so, although British authorities insist that it remains in The Natural History Museum where it is being preserved for humanity.
The minister says Zambians do not want to be given replicas of the Broken Hill Man.“Britain has its position, but Zambia can argue its case. It can claim how it lost such a heritage. There is no dispute that the Broken Hill Man was discovered here, and he was taken out of the country,” Ms Namugala said.She said, however, that Government is happy that through diplomatic engagement over the return of the skull, parties involved have shown interest to dialogue.She said Government hopes that through the interpretation centre, authentic information about the site and the skull will be provided.This will help to correct any misinformation concerning the Broken Hill Man because the NHCC will provide correct and factual information.“It is extremely important that we have this interpretation centre for our people to have knowledge about the Broken Hill Man.Information is power and through this facility, we are going to have expert information about the Broken Hill Man,” Ms Namugala said.
Kabwe Town Clerk Vivian Chikoti says the local authority attaches importance to the site because it is important.
Ms Chikoti said the intentions by NHCC to develop the site are welcome because an important site of historical significance to humans should be given the attention it deserves.“That is a very important place. Even if the skull of the Broken Hill Man is not there, the site is there and we should put up a museum. We need that site to be developed so that people can see that this is where the skull was discovered,” Ms Chikoti said.She expressed concern that although the site is a national heritage, it is not developed.The provincial leadership in Central Province is happy about the NHCC’s intentions to establish an interpretation centre at the site.
Permanent secretary Denny Lumbama said the establishment of the centre at the old mine is a positive development because information will be provided not only to Zambians but also to tourists and researchers.“As Government, it is important that we continue lobbying for the return of the skull of the Broken Hill Man, which was discovered here in Kabwe. We just can’t forgo this issue because the Broken Hill Man is part of our heritage and part of who we are,” Mr Lumbama said.He also noted that setting up a centre will help to develop and preserve the site.
“The establishment of this interpretation centre is actually long overdue, otherwise it is a welcome move because we need the site to be developed and people who will visit the site will have information about the Broken Hill Man,” he added.
NHCC East-Central Region conservation historic architect Jamu Banda said the Kabwe Broken Hill Man site is an important archaeological and historic site, which should be secured and developed.Mr Banda explained that when the centre is established, it will contain all the information about Broken Hall Man.“It will be a structure which will have information about the Broken Hill Man, where he was found, how he lived and where he is. This (construction of the interpretation centre) will depend on funding from would-be partners,” he said.
Mr Edgar Zulu, who crushes stones at the old mine, adds that the neglected site needs to be developed and properly secured if it has to gain both local and international recognition as the site where the skull was discovered.
“This area should be recognised as a tourist area.There should be signposts so that it is identified as an area where the skull of the Broken Hill Man was discovered,” Mr Zulu said.Mr Zulu, who has been crushing stones for over one year, observed that the site could be a potential tourist destination, but it seems little is known about it because of not being developed or marketed to both local and international tourists.He further suggested that the NHCC should deploy a person who is knowledgeable and well-informed about the Broken Hill Man to guide the people who visit the site.And as the debate on the ownership of the skull continues, the move to establish an interpretation centre is seen as a positive development that will enable Zambia preserve the Kabwe archaeological site.
It is also expected that when the interpretation centre is established and the site signed, these developments will make the site accessible and marketable to tourists and researchers.
By CHAMBO NG’UNI
Zambia Daily Mail
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