A Review of Statutes and Administrative Jurisdictions on Graves, Burial Grounds and Human Remains in Botswana

Abstract

In Botswana there is no legal protection of archaeological graves, burial grounds and associated human
tissue. This is despite the increased interaction between burial grounds, graves, and infrastructural
developments where grave relocations are becoming inevitable. Instead, the Department of National
Museum and Monuments (DNMM) which is the institutional custodian of the heritage estate, operates
on poorly articulated statutes borrowed from various disciplines and government ministries to guide
grave relocations and studies on human tissue. This essay presents a discussion of the state of affairs
with regards to statutes, administration and jurisdictions over archaeological graves, burial grounds
and human tissue.