Postdoctoral Research Associate for Tanzania
Akinbowale is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Department of Archaeology, University of York. Akinbowale’s interest in archaeology was instigated by his quest to know about the origin of humans – an interest that rivalled another deep interest of his: Mathematics. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Archaeology/Geography (University of Ibadan, Nigeria), a master’s degree in Environmental Archaeology (University of Ibadan, Nigeria) and another master’s degree in Environmental Management (Pan African University, Institute of Life and Earth Sciences, Nigeria). Afterwards, Akinbowale was awarded a European Union Scholarship under the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship programme to study for an International Doctorate in Quaternary and Prehistory (IDQP) in Spain and Italy. Under the broad spectrum of Landscape Archaeology, he employed GIS methodologies to discuss how human groups interacted with the environment with respect to lithic resource procurement, using provenance studies of stone tools from the archaeological assemblage of Santa Ana cave in southwest Iberian Peninsula during Lower and Middle Pleistocene.
Akinbowale is passionate about applying GIS methodologies for spatial and temporal analyses of landscapes. In the last 15 years, he has been involved in GIS analyses and training of undergraduate and graduate students on the applications of GIS and remote sensing methodologies in environmental sciences. His work experience has enabled him to use GIS tools to solve various kinds of environmental and archaeological problems and with time, he has discovered new areas where he may further apply these skills (particularly in the area of mapping of historic and heritage sites). Aside from this, he has been involved in several GIS projects involving data collection, spatial analyses and land use change in different parts of Nigeria and Spain.
My goal is to synthesise my knowledge of GIS with management of environmental problems and the mapping of historic and heritage sites in Nigeria, Africa and the world at large. I’m driven by the imperative to preserve these historic and heritage sites left behind by ancient groups who inhabited this space before us, for sustainability. The MAEASaM project gives me the opportunity to engage in these activities and learn as much as I can from colleagues who share similar passions
In his role with the MAEASaM project, Akinbowale will apply GIS and remote sensing techniques to identify past, present, and potential future threats to the integrity of heritage sites and monuments in Tanzania and Zanzibar.
Akinbowale has mapped and documented heritage sites such as Osun Osogbo Sacred Grove (World Heritage Site), Ifa Temple and Obatala Shrine, among others, to teach high school students about the need to be familiar with these sites and to keep them informed of the cultural traditions of the Yorubas who inhabit the southwestern part of Nigeria.
When he is not performing GIS and remote sensing analyses, Akinbowale can be found listening to music, watching movies, and playing football.
You can read more about Akinbowale on Orcid and the University of York website.