“Archaeology Discovered Me, Honestly” – Annlin Matabane

While MC’ing an event by A Seat At The Table, I met a unicorn. In my 40 years of life, I have never stood next to an Archeologist. I remember handing the mic to Annlin Matabane as she posed a question. When she said ” I am an Archeologist”, the whole room snapped their fingers. I knew then that I need a Q&A with her on the blog and she said yes. Here is how it went:

Sibusiso Nkosi: Do you often feel like a unicorn in social gatherings as an Archaeologist? We do not see them a lot.

Annlin Matabane: Well… yes. While understanding that women in Archaeology in South Africa have not been historically recognised and/or visible in mainstream media, it is a rather comforting to celebrate one’s individualism in shared spaces. So yes, I do feel like a unicorn at times. I do however advocate for more visibility of the discipline, for Archaeologists to be more active and to engage in platforms outside of Archaeology to shed some light. It is important to take up a seat at the table and to be acknowledged, recognised and to create inclusive space that historically has excluded African Women in this sector. 

Sibusiso Nkosi: How did you discover Archeology?

Annlin Matabane: I believe we are called to service. I was guided into this space through observing the places in my University that have very few students that looked like me. I gravitated towards Archaeology because I realised there were a lot of opportunities for young people who look like me to make a difference and to play a vital role in the unearthing, interpretation and dissemination of our own cultural heritage identity. Archaeology discovered me, honestly. 

Sibusiso Nkosi: What does a typical day of an Archeologist look like?

Annlin Matabane: Well it depends. There are many kinds of Archaeologists working in several spaces. For example, if you are an academic at a University it may typically involve a lot of reading, research and writing as well as attending lectures, and lending your voice to meetings and students for mentoring, supervision and training on excavations.

As a CRM (Cultural Heritage Resources Management Practitioner) Archaeologist, no 2 days are the same for me. I wake up most days and head to my office, attend to administration, conduct research, submit permit applications and write reports. Other days I proceed to site to monitor Archaeologically sensitive activities. Other days I am on the road conducting a survey or heritage building assessment. 

My best days however is when I travel to engage with communities and conduct stakeholder management meetings, interacting with different people in different languages from all over, learning of their unique cultural practices and their histories. I appreciate this aspect the most. 

Sibusiso Nkosi: Would you advise other young people to get into the field?

Annlin Matabane: I advocate for inclusion and representation. We need more young Black Women in Archaeology and we need passionate, driven, innovative young Women to take a seat at the table and contribute their own voices and bring about change.

Sibusiso Nkosi: What is your advice to young Women who want to do something different but are afraid?

Annlin Matabane: Try! Let your passion blind your fears. Let yourself belief be greater than your self-doubt. “Motho ke go iteka” loosely translates to “to be human…is to try”. In this life we must try, and if at first you don’t succeed…Try again. Be relentless in your willingness to try.