Uncovering Namibia’s forgotten Genocide through forensic Archaeology (194590000)
Namibian genocide is one of the oldest genocides in the history of mankind. Tens of thousands Ovahereros and Namas were murdered between 1904-1908 under German colonial control.
The material and psychological legacy of the genocide is less well understood than other atrocities. There are historical accounts, but they’re often incomplete and shaped by colonial perspectives.
Landscapes in Namibia, which bear witness to the violence, still exist, but they are increasingly under pressure due to urbanization, infrastructure construction and environmental changes. The archaeology research plays a crucial role in protecting and documenting this heritage.
In Namibia, between 2023 and 2025, The Centre of Archaeology at Huddersfield University, together with representatives of the community, Forensic Architecture and Forensis, and the Swakopmund Holocaust Museum conducted two seasons of fieldwork. We have focused our work on German colonial camps of concentration in Swakopmund, Luderitz and other areas.
Our project uses forensic techniques to document, locate and protect grave sites that are associated with genocide. Our goal is to show how archaeology confirms historical events, provides physical evidence, supports commemoration, and can strengthen reparations claims.
Ground Penetrating Radar is a geophysical method that detects buried structures using radar waves without the need for excavation. GPS survey, drone images and targeted excavation are also part of this research.
It is crucial to work closely with the Ovaherero, and Nama people.
They have helped to shape the discussions and research around protecting sites.
Sites under threat
In Luderitz between 1905-1907, German colonial officials established several concentration camp, among them the notorious Shark Island Camp. Under harsh conditions, Ovaherero prisoners and Nama were made to slave-work to construct railways and an extension of the harbour.
This was a real death sentence for many. Although historical sources indicate that up to 4,000 prisoners perished on Shark Island, the exact location of their final resting place is still unknown. Oral and written records indicate that many corpses were not buried. They were instead disposed in the Atlantic Ocean.
GPR survey of the Radford Bay Cemetery, Luderitz.
Centre of Archaeology Author supplied (no re-use)
Some of the sand-mounds near the memorial for the victims at Radford Bay are thought to be mass graves. We have discovered subsurface anomalies that are consistent with graves under a few of these features, in collaboration with Forensic architecture, using photo-mapping techniques and forensics methods. One anomaly suggests the existence of a large grave.
These results are the first to provide scientific support for oral reports of Luderitz burial practices. The site, however is very vulnerable to erosion from wind and sand. A planned infrastructure project for the coast also threatens it. The important physical evidence that is still present and the chance to commemorate the event will disappear if nothing is done.
Click here to read more
Namibia’s Shark Island – Europe’s drive for green hydrogen could compromise sites of colonial genocidal genocide
In Swakopmund, a former centre of German colonial activities, recent investigations have shown the fragility and scale of another graveyard. In the old slave workers’ burial ground in Kramersdorf thousands of Ovaherero victims and Nama were buried unmarked, shallow graves.
The housing developments, damage from vehicles and pedestrians as well as the pressure of development are all putting a strain on these burials.
The extent of burials that were not marked at the site is one of the biggest discoveries. Environmental indicators such as clusters of plants forming distinctive patterns have been crucial to identifying grave locations. The patterns are a reflection of changes in the soil composition that occur with burials, and allow graves to still be located even when there are no obvious markers.
Ovaherero & Nama Slave Cemetery at Kramersdorf Burial Ground, Swakopmund
Centre of Archaeology Author supplied (no reuse).
Geophysical data revealed graves and other anomalies buried in the ground, some of which were directly under modern tracks.
The conservation problem is now urgent – the remains that are hidden in plain sight are being destroyed.
In one case, where erosion exposed an old coffin it was decided that a targeted excavation would be necessary in order to confirm the original observations.
The soil was sieved by hand and the human remains were not disturbed. After the remains were identified, all recording was stopped and a protective mound of sand was built above.
Leaders from the community were involved in all stages of the burial process. Community leaders were present throughout the process.
They performed ceremonies, monitored work and guided the decisions regarding how burials should be handled. It was important to include this aspect, as these were not just archaeological sites but also ancestral graves. This was the first time that many of the participants had direct contact with those who were killed in the camps.
Future of Memorialisation
The project is part of a larger effort to make the Namibian Genocide more widely known. This process is heavily dependent on public engagement.
This history is told in part by the Swakopmund Holocaust Museum. It was founded in 2015, after Laidlaw’s great-grandmother, who survived Swakopmund, had established it. The Namibian Government officially recognized the Swakopmund Genocide Museum in 2019.
In response to the growing number of visitors, the museum recently received funding for an expansion in its exhibition area.
The displays were redesigned with the support of the Huddersfield Centre of Archaeology. The displays will be revealed on Namibia’s official Genocide Remembrance Day, May 28th 2026.
Swakopmund Genocide museum
Laidlaw peringanda (author provided)
The archaeology evidence is different from the written and oral testimony. The evidence confirms burials and their conditions, as well as their size. This can reveal gaps in official records.
This evidence in Namibia has implications that go beyond the historical. This evidence contributes to the ongoing debates on colonial legacy, reparations, and historical accountability. These are issues that have not been resolved.
This forensic archaeology approach strengthens the foundation for discussions by ensuring that the physical traces of genocide are visible. This approach ensures the past will not only be documented but also acknowledged, protected, and recognized.
