"For the past century, human endeavour and technological innovation have played a leading role in diamond mining in Namibia, and have shaped the country's economy and society like no other sector of the Namibian mining industry. I therefore felt that the 100th anniversary of the first diamond find presented a unique opportunity to compile a comprehensive historical review of developments and events in the Namibian diamond-mining industry, in particular since no such an all-embracing attempt has been made to date. Industrial and building heritage within Namibia's diamond areas is slowly but surely succumbing to the forces of nature, and thus needed to be documented urgently. Much of the intangible heritage has already been lost, as only few people who witnessed the early days are still available to tell of their experiences."