Heritage Cases

The sewer line construction is situated west of the Phola township, Mpumalanga Province on the farm Wildebeestfontein 327 IS at GPS Coordinates: -25.992492°, 29.029331°. Most of the study area is predominantly covered by long grass. The Saalklapspruit is located to the west of the possible grave features. Construction consisting mostly of trenching for the sewer line is taking place on-site. An existing pipeline is located a few meters east of the current proposed route of the sewer line. The site containing the possible graves is approximately 10m x 50m in extent. In April 2022 the Motheo Construction Group and the Bigen Group (Pty) Ltd, who are busy with the construction of a sewer pipeline in Phola, were made aware of the location of possible graves at their construction site by a community member. A team from PGS Heritage consisting of an Archaeologist and a Stakeholder Engagement Officer conducted a site visit with a team member from the Motheo Construction Group on Tuesday, 19 April 2022 to investigate the site and features. Photographs and a GPS coordinate were taken of the site. A visit was also undertaken to one of the community members who had identified/claimed that there are graves at the site, to establish the history, context and extent of the possible burial ground. During the site visit, three features were identified. These consist of a stone heap, as well as single stone “markers”. Due to limited visibility as a result of the long grass, the features could not be identified as graves with certainty. Furthermore, it is also possible that the stones identified are rubble that was left on-site during the construction of the existing pipeline a few meters away. The following methodology will be followed during the test excavations. The aim of this method is to remove enough of the topsoil until a clear display of the soil stratigraphy beneath is revealed. 1) Each feature will be documented and measured, the surface is then cleared of all debris and photographed. All observations regarding construction, materials and characteristics of the surface features are documented. 2) The topsoil is then carefully removed in 1mx1m test pits measured out on each feature of 30cm by hand. 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 feature will not be fully excavated and will be backfilled afterwards accordingly no matter the outcome. Should the features prove to be graves, the surface of the feature will be restored. Once the grave pit has been identified, the feature will be restored to previous conditions before the test excavations and a formal grave relocation process will commence. If the features do not contain any changes in the soil matrix it can be confirmed as being only surface features and construction in the area can continue after approval from SAHRA.