African rock art and world heritage: context, safeguarding and prospects for the future

African rock art, a non-renewable cultural heritage, faces significant threats from both natural and human sources, with the latter being predominantly unintended but destructive. The study highlights that UNESCO's designation of these sites as World Heritage, starting with Tiya in Ethiopia (1980), has been instrumental in their recognition but insufficient to mitigate risks such as dust erosion, fires, vandalism, and looting. It also underscores the need for enhanced community engagement and resource allocation to improve safeguarding efforts. The research draws on expert insights, academic literature, and grey sources to analyze management challenges and propose future interventions.

Mazel, A. (2025). African rock art and world heritage: context, safeguarding and prospects for the future (Version 1). Newcastle University. https://doi.org/10.25405/NCL.34528878.V1