A couple of weeks ago, two widely disseminated stories appeared online first in Fast Company magazine and then also in ICON Magazine (see here and here) describing with wonderful detail the work of Prof. Heinz Ruther and his Zamani project. For many years, this team has been traveling through various parts of Africa, working with local government and heritage officials to document and create digital 3D models of various sites and landscapes. To date, the African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes database includes detailed spatial, visual, and contextual documentation for 11 sites and landscapes.  This cutting edge online resource provides educators and students with a unique and diverse view of Africa’s living heritage. From natural landscapes that include vast irrigation channels and settlements from hundreds of years ago in the great Rift Valley (Engaruka) to the rock hewn churches in Ethiopia’s highlands (Lalibela) - this resource remains one the only academic databases available for teaching and research that combines content and data from over a dozen global partners focusing on Africa’s diverse and unique patrimony.  Courses and syllabi that cover archaeology in Africa, African civilizations, or African cultural production will all benefit from the unique resources available in this JSTOR collection.

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