ABSTRACT
This chapter presents a case study which concerns the exhumation of an early colonial burial ground in central Cape Town, South Africa. When uttered by an archaeologist it implies notions of stew-ardship' of the archaeological record', and connects us with a set of phrases and intentions which have become part of a common place language for discussions of ethics in archaeology: to build bridges', to consult stakeholders' and descendant communities', to recover hidden histories', to democratise the past'. The developer appointed the Archaeology Contracts Office (ACO), a University of Cape Town (UCT) affiliated contract archaeology unit to do the archaeological investigation. A leaked internal memo to South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) Archaeology, Palaeontology, Meteorite and Heritage Object Committee expresses the concern that, should the site be conserved as a heritage site it would have disastrous consequences for the developer who will presumably appeal against the decision.
