Heritage Cases

The site Kweneng is composed of three sectors (Sadr 2019). Previous excavations in three stone walled compounds (Taylor 1984; Huffman 1986; Mason 1986) located in Kweneng Central and Kweneng South suggest that these parts of Kweneng were burnt down and precipitously abandoned, probably at the start of the Difeqane in 1823. Kweneng North is architecturally somewhat different from the central and southern sectors of the site and the question is whether it might be an older occupation. To attempt to answer this question, the following idea is proposed. If the houses in Kweneng North were also burnt and precipitously abandoned, we can provisionally conclude that all three sectors of the site were occupied simultaneously in the terminal phase, which ended with the Difeqane. To test this, a few shovel test pits are to be excavated in two compounds in Kweneng North. The two compounds are on the farm Wagon Ranch, located at the southern end of Kweneng North. Each compound's perimeter wall indicates that around twenty houses might have once stood within them. Given the style of architecture (Molokwane), it is quite easy to predict where the houses stood. Shovel test pits excavated in the correct spot and to a depth of no more than about 30 cm will show if the house floors were burnt and if pots were left behind. It is estimated that about five or six shovel test pits per compound will suffice. Each test pit will be about 50 cm by 50 cm, and will be excavated with a hand pick and trowel. If the compounds were burnt and abandoned in a hurry, we expect to find burnt lumps of clay (daga) and potsherds in the test pits. All finds will be recorded in the field and put back in the pits before re-filling them. Detailed notes, maps and photographs will show the location and content of each test pit. No materials will be removed from the site.