Heritage Cases

Port Nolloth Sea Farms Ranching (Pty) Ltd ranches abalone in the Northern Cape Concession Area NC 3 and is in need of an abalone holding and processing facility to support the abalone ranching business. The proposed holding and processing facility is situated on State Land approximately 6 km south of Kleinzee, Northern Cape Province. An archaeological impact assessment was undertaken by ACRM in 2018. Traces of archaeological resources of low (Grade IIIC) significance were recorded in the 2.0ha footprint area, but the remains occur in a severely disturbed and degraded context. A few quartz stone flakes and some indigenous Cape Coastal pottery were also found. Shovel testing was recommended in the north eastern portion of the site (the proposed location for the diver’s quarters), to determine the significance of sub surface archaeological deposits. Archaeological observations recorded on Site 8221 comprised dispersed fragments of shellfish (mostly limpets (S. argenvillei and some C. granatina) on a level piece of relatively undisturbed land in the north eastern portion of site (proposed divers quarters). Two pieces of quartz was noted, but no pottery or ostrich eggshell was found. The estimated age of the site is not older than 2000BP. Density of surface remains suggests low significance, but will be confirmed by shovel testing . The action is to determine the depth, significance and extent of sub-surface archaeological deposits, to inform whether full mitigation in advance of development is required. Deposits will be sieved using a 3mm mesh sieve to check for shellfish densities and cultural remains. Shellfish will be used to determine site significance. We will use a method to determine significance designed by Smith and Mutti (2009). All sorting will be done on site and no subsistence or cultural remains will be removed from the property. The positions of all the test holes will be recorded using a hand-held GPS device set on the WGS 84 datum. The stratigraphy of each test pit will be measured and described. Photographs of all the test holes will be taken A report will be submitted to SAHRA for approval Reference Smith, A.B. & Mutti, B.J. 2009. A simple measure of intensity of human occupation from shell density as seen on the Vredenburg Peninsula coast. South African Archaeological Bulletin 64 (190): 172-175.