COSMO-ART (The Cosmopolitan Approach as a New Paradigm for Rock Art Heritage Management in Southern Africa) is a French funded (ANR – National Research Agency) research programme that proposes to develop a new approach to rock art management. This approach relies on the so-called Cosmopolitan Theory and seeks out cross-cultural common interest points in the use and perception of rock art that are recognised as relevant to a broad range of users (e.g. local populations, scientists, institutional stakeholders). The goal is to reconcile perceptions and development policies to better achieve sustainability.
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The team includes more than 40 researchers and students from 16 scientific institutions in Australia, France, Namibia and South Africa.
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The activities of the COSMO-ART team are shared between fieldwork, theoretical exploration, dissemination and outreach actions.
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Research is conducted in Namibia, in the Erongo Mountains and Spitzkoppe area, and in South Africa, around Kimberley.
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Outputs of COSMO-ART include scientific communications and publications and also productions aimed at a larger audience.
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Training and capacity building are also a critical part of COSMO-ART activities.
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As part of its outreach mission, COSMO-ART offers resources for those interested in applying the Cosmopolitan Approach to heritage management.