Heritage Cases

Prior to initiating soil removal all machine operators and project personnel will be made aware of the potential of uncovering cultural material and specifically faunal remains within the area. Their obligations in the case of an inadvertent discovery and protocol for handling accidental discoveries will be explained. Earthworks will consist of an initial systematic strip clearing where transects of vegetation are mechanically removed using a bulldozer and after which a grader will be used to systematically remove soil in a controlled manner. Subsequent to this, areas in-between will similarly be cleared to a depth of 30cm. A team of 4 archaeologists and technicians will walk in close proximity to removal equipment in order to view subsurface deposits as they are exposed, and will be in close communication with the equipment operators to ensure adequate opportunity for observation and documentation of areas of possible interest. Where areas of interest are observed, the machinery will be diverted and the area investigated for cultural deposits of human remains (bone) and a systematic collection of material be done following archaeological accepted methods as described in the ASAPA guidelines for archaeological excavations. Bone material will be collected, labelled and GPS coordinates taken after which the bone material will be delivered to the Distong Museum where Dr Antonites will analyse the bone to determine the origin of the collected bone. Monitoring activities will be documented by means of photographic recording and a final monitoring report as well as bone analysis report will be submitted to SAHRA.