Heritage Cases

PGS Heritage (Pty) Ltd (“PGS”) has been appointed by Glencore Operations South Africa (Proprietary) Limited`s Goedgevonden Complex (“Glencore”) to conduct a Ground-Penetrating Radar (“GPR”) survey and Test Excavations (“TE”) to identify the correct location of the burials of the Makwakwa family. The following methodology will be followed during the GPR survey. The GPR survey aims to detect any anomalies consistent with the burials in the surrounding soil matrix. 1) The features will be documented and, together with the surrounding area, will then be cleared of any vegetation that might obstruct the use of the GPR equipment. 2) The stone and soil mounds marking any features will be levelled by hand. Continuous documentation will ensure that it can be reconstructed after the GPR survey. If required, earthmoving machinery may be used to level the surface of the site. The archaeological team will constantly and carefully monitor any use of such earthmoving machinery to ensure that only surface levelling takes place without disturbing deeper contexts. 3) A survey grid will be laid out over the area to be scanned. The area will be as large as possible, considering the adjacent mining activities. The area indicated by the Makwakwa family will be investigated during the GPR survey. 4) Radargrams will be collected every 25cm on both the X-of the grid. If needed, the Y-axis will also be surveyed. 5) The data will be processed to see if any anomalies consistent with the presence of graves are present. Additional to the vertical radargrams, the post-processing software will also produce horizontal slices every 5cm -10cm. The following methodology will be followed during the test excavations. This method aims to remove enough of the topsoil until a clear display of the soil stratigraphy beneath is revealed. 1) As mentioned above, the area will be documented, and the surface cleared of all debris and photographed. All observations regarding construction, materials and characteristics of the surface features (if any) are documented. 2) The topsoil is then carefully removed by hand using 1mx1m test pits or test trenches, considering what method will be best suited at the site. The GPR grid will be used for the test excavations. Observations will be made of the changing soil matrix and any patterns in stratigraphy indicating a grave pit. 3) Any archaeological features are noted and photographed. The presence of a burial pit can normally be ascertained by differences in the soil matrix. This would include a change in soil colour and/or texture due to prior disturbance if a pit or other alteration in the stratigraphy took place. 4) The area will not be fully excavated and will be backfilled afterwards, irrespective of the outcome of the investigation. Once the GPR survey and test excavations have been completed, the area will be restored to its previous condition.