Wonder Woman of the Week: Solange Macamo
It's not often that I spotlight a fellow anthropologist for Wonder Woman Wednesday, but much of what is now known about the history of Mozambique is thanks to this week's spotlight. Solange Macamo studied archaeology in Sweden at Uppsala University earning a doctorate in southern Mozambique in the 13th to 18th Centuries. Dr. Macamo focuses on a wide range of archaeological locations and techniques in her home country including a special interest in urban archaeology, underwater archaeology, and archaeology of the Zambezi River Basin.
Another aspect of Dr. Solange Macamo's work is a focus on the application of "privileged places" in Mozambique archaeology as well as the use of feminist anthropology techniques in assessing archaeological sites. This means that Dr. Macamo looks beyond the architecture of archaeological sites but also their connection to means of communication, availability of resources, and other urban planning factors to determine the societal lives of pre-colonial residents of Mozambique's historical cultures.
Solange Macamo's successful application of archaeological methods in her home country made her the defacto expert on Mozambique's history. That might be why she earned a role as a professor of archaeology and heritage management at Eduardo Mondlane University in the country. Additionally, Dr. Macamo earned a position as the Director of Cultural Heritage. During her tenure as the director, Macamo worked with Portuguese and Japanse officials to increase support for making the Island of Mozambique a UNESCO Cultural Heritage Site, and met with delegates from several African nations to discuss future strategies for improving sustainability and cultural tourism in Mozambique.
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