Thomas John Biginagwa (PhD)
University of Dar es Salaam,
Mwalimu Nyerere Campus College of Humanities
Department of Archaeology and Heritage
P.O. Box 35051, Dar es Salaam - TANZANIA
E-mail: bigi@heeal.eu
Mobile Phone: +255 713 432 435
Professional info
Biginagwa is a historical archaeologist, well-trained in zooarchaeology (the study of animal remains from archaeological sites). His research interest is on long-term historical ecology of East African landscape over the last c. 500 years, the period that coincides with the main era of direct European engagement with this region. Biginagwa completed his BA degree in Archaeology at the University of Dar es Salaam (2002), followed by an MA degree in Development Studies from the same university (2004), and later a PhD from the University of York, UK (2012). Biginagwa’s PhD research examined animal economies practiced by local communities against the context of caravan trade expansion in eastern Africa during the nineteenth century. He continues to work with a series of projects investigating the consequences of the nineteenth-century caravan trade on human environment and subsistence strategies in East Africa.
Work experience
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September 2013 – present (2016): Principal Investigator and Team Leader: Archaeological Investigations of the Consequences of the Nineteenth-Century Caravan Trade on Human Environment and Subsistence Strategies in Southern Tanzania: (http:www.vwfoundation-humanities.uni-hannover.de)
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November 2013 – present: College Coordinator of Postgraduate Studies
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June 2006 - to present: Lecturer , Dept. of History and Archaeology, University of Dar es Salaam
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Departmental Examination Officer (2012-2013)
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Departmental Coordinator of Practical Training (2012-2013)
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October 2007 – October 2010: Junior Researcher, European Union funded Marie Curie HEEAL Project (University of York, UK) (www.heeal.eu)
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July 2003 – June 2006: Conservator of Antiquities, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Head Quarters - Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
2010 - present
2010 - present
Education Background and Qualification
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2012: PhD in Archaeology, University of York (Historical archaeology of the 19th century caravan trade in northeastern Tanzania: a zooarchaeological perspective).
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2004: MA in Development Studies, University of Dar es Salaam (The role of higher learning institutions in watersheds management in Uluguru Mountains, Morogoro Region).
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2002: BA in Archaeology, University of Dar es Salaam (Assessment of Public awareness to Archaeology in Irangi Hills, Central Tanzania).
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1998: Advanced Secondary Education (Tanzania)
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1995: Ordinary Level Secondary Education (Tanzania)
Selected Research and Work Experience
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July – August 2012: Principal investigator and field supervisor – Archaeology field school at Kilwa Kivinje (Underground archaeology of the historic town of Kilwa Kivinje)
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July – August 2009: Supervised the UDSM archaeology field school (with Mr. Elinaza Mjema) at Pangani Bay, northeastern Tanzania (Settlement History and Culture of Maritime Community of the Pangani Bay)
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May – August 2008: PhD field research (encompassing field school) at the Lower Pangani Basin, (Historical Archaeology of the 19th century Caravan Trade in Northeastern Tanzania: A Zooarchaeological Perspective)
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June – August 2007: Directed archaeology field school (with Prof. B.B. Mapunda) in Lindi region, Southern Tanzania (History and Archaeology of the Maji maji Rebellion)
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September – December 2005: UNESCO Task Force (Researcher and Departmental Coordinator (Antiquities) (Preparation of the Nomination File to Extend the Ngorongoro World Heritage Site to become a World Heritage Mixed Site)
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February – April 2005: Researcher and Departmental Coordinator (Preparation of Tourism Master Plan and Extension of the Nomination File for World Heritage Site of the Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songomnara, to Include the Historic Town of Kilwa Kivinje)
Selected Courses, Workshopsn and Conferences Attended
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September 2014: ‘Humanities Day and Volkswagen Workshop’, UDSM, Tanzania
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May 2014: ‘Write-Shop Workshop – Research Methodology and Writing Skills’: Dar es Salaam
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June 2011: ‘Pedagody’: University of Western Ontario, Canada
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November 2010: Society of Africanist Aarchaeology, Dakar -Senegal
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August 2010: International Congress on Zooarchaeology, Paris, France
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June 2010: Radiocarbon Calibration and Bayesian Analysis, Oxford -UK
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June-July 2009: Summer School (Doing Mixed Methods Research on Climate Interacting with Poverty, Health and Culture), University of Bergen -Norway
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November 2008: Africa Archaeology Research Day, University of York - UK.
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January 2008: Get Published in Humanities and Social Sciences, University of York –UK.
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December 2007: Basic Presentation Skills, University of York -UK
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November 2007: Africa Archaeology Research Day, University of Oxford - UK
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February 2007: Advanced Teaching Methodology , University of Dar es Salaam - TZ
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December 2005: Principles and Guidelines for Management and Conservation of Immovable Cultural Heritage, Bagamoyo - TZ.
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October 2005: 33rd UNESCO General Conference , Paris - France
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June 2004: Stone Conservation , Stockholm - Sweden
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November - December 2003: Research Methodology (OSSREA), Nairobi – Kenya
Selected Consultancy Works
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(with Dr. Kessy): Desktop study LNG Plant Site Selection and ESIA for the Oil and Gas Project in Lindi and Mtwara Region, Tanzania, 2012
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(with Mr. Ichumbaki): Desktop Study of the Archaeological Potential of Bagamoyo Special Economic Zone, 2013
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(with COWI): Environmental and Social Impact Assessment for Statoil Tanzania AS, 2015