| Abstract
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This paper stems from an archaeological excavation of two rock art shelters, namely, Nyamang’ora and Nyankingi in Kasoma Village, Musoma Rural District in Mara Region in 2012. Apart from revealing the shelters to be home for Later Stone Age hunter-foragers, the study also noted challenges in relation to how locals perceive cultural heritage assets in their area as well as conservation obstacles, resulting from both natural causes and anthropogenic factors. Through field observations and local interviews, it became clear that the majority of people do not understand the significance of the rock paintings in their area, and many are unaware of the paintings’ existence. This alarming lack of knowledge about their own cultural heritage among people living in Kasoma Village poses serious threats to the conservation and sustainability of the priceless rock paintings at Nyamang’ora and Nyankingi rock shelters. Among other mitigation measures to curb further deterioration of the sites, this study recommends the joint effort of stakeholders such as local community leaders and elders, the central government’s Antiquities Department, volunteer groups, donors both local and international, collaborating in the dissemination of knowledge about the significance and conservation of rock art shelters in the area. Key to the success of multi-sector collaboration is the critical involvement of local leaders at every stage of decision making and planning of cultural heritage preservation and archaeological site conservation.
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