Heritage Cases

As part of the annual field school for archaeology students at UNISA we plan to revisit the site for further excavations. However, this year fieldwork is a joint venture with post-graduate physical anthropology students from the Department of Anatomy at UP. Due to large-scale sheet erosion most of the site is being washed away with the resultant exposure of material culture, structures and human remains. As the first investigations took place in 2004, this year's fieldwork will provide the ideal opportunity to re-assess and record the site. Several areas with human remains have also being exposed. The aim is to conduct selected excavations and shovel test pits (STPs) to determine the extend of the site and to record and remove features that are in the process of being eroded. The original permit was 80/04/02/019/51 (as amended) The site is situated on the farm Vaalboschlaagte 55JQ (25°12’55,8” S; 27°10’41,7” E) and due to its close proximity of the southern bank of the Doornpoortspruit River the deposits and features are being exposed by extensive sheet erosion. Preliminary pottery analysis indicate an association with the Mid-Moloko (AD 1325 – AD 1500) as pottery from both the Icon, Olifantspoort and Madikwe facies was recorded at the site. This interpretation is confirmed by radiocarbon dates from UP147 of 620 ± 40 BP (Pta 9304) which yielded a calibrated date of AD1400 (1 sigma range: AD 1312 – 1358; AD 1385 – 1412) and from UP152 of 670 ± 40 BP (Pta 9475) which provided a calibrated date of AD 1308, AD 1367 or AD 1379 (1 sigma range: AD 1293 – 1400) that seems to confirm an Mid-Moloko occupation. Due to high rainfall last year several areas with material deposit, features and human remains have also being exposed and are in danger of being washed away. The aim is to conduct selected excavations and shovel test pits (STPs) to determine the extend of the site and to record and remove features that are in the process of being eroded.