## 6 Earth Observation, Archaeological Research and Spatial Privacy  
Archaeological research via space satellites and remote sensing is very usefully lifting the lid over the mysteries of Africa's past. The use of remote sensing generally is likely to have increasing value in the management and exploitation of archaeological research. It has a clear role in discovery of heritage sites across a continent that played host to the very beginnings of mankind. Certain questions suggest themselves at this stage of our analysis: Will African states grasp the opportunities of this area of archaeological research through indigenous efforts? Will they do so in collaboration with the advanced space faring states and their private corporations? Indeed in the area of earth observation and remote sensing will they needlessly remain under the situation of absolute reliance upon foreign investment in this area; such as the American Landsat system or the European Spot system? These questions are germane in light of the issues of privacy, security and national sovereignty that are raised by geospatial technology even in Archaeological/Heritage Research? The right to privacy is one that is commonly recognised in all legal systems. Yet there appears to be a lacunae in relation to the privacy principle with respect to remote sensing over archaeological and heritage sites. We have settled above that invaluable archaeological artefacts and sites may be identified from space. Something as basic as a simple Google Earth searches has produced accurate identification of important Roman era ceramic artefacts. An Italian computer programmer recently discovered the remains of an ancient Roman Villa in his town after browsing maps and photographs downloaded from the internet site Google Earth. He correctly interpreted curious rectangular shadows he spotted nearby an ancient river as a buried archaeological structure. In this case he alerted the local archaeological museum but it cannot be concluded with certainty that similar course of action will always be adopted by other astute experts from developed countries where there is a higher appreciation of the value of archaeological material much less to expect similar results in poorer regions of the world [98]. This question of archaeological privacy is pertinent given that the history of archaeology has never been free of cloak and dagger practices and that developing states have fallen so often to their artefacts being constructively extracted permanently from their territories. Note the various accounts of treachery in relation to the discovery of Cambodia trail Pichau [100; 101; 102; 103]. The developing states of Africa are particularly vulnerable to inadvertent or deliberate surveillance of their archaeological and heritage sites without permission. This has both commercial and security implications to the sovereign states of Africa. Privacy over archaeological treasures and heritage sites may have been lost in a fundamental way to remote sensing capabilities of a few technologically capable states whereas access to the technology is slow in coming to even those developing states that are actually showing interest in space activities. Although, many archaeological sites and monuments are located in inaccessible areas significant numbers also are to be found in cities and urban centres [104]. The use of medium- and high-resolution remotely sensed data of features, water bodies, habitats and vegetation of state territory is necessarily an issue of privacy and sovereignty. Whereas the interests of foreign investigators in Africa is quite high particularly \"... in hyper-arid Africa, where collected field data are scarce, the areas to be covered are large and the visibility of certain classes of archaeological evidence is high, since it contrasts with the background barren environment\" [105]. [PERSON] in 2004 gave a description of the impact of remote sensing activities upon modern states which may be considered impressive in its analogical and figurative value.