Heritage Cases

The proposed VLNR lodge development is located to the south of the Limpopo floodplain on a small sandstone hill providing vistas of the surrounding landscape with Lizzulea dam to the south of the hill. Evidence of modern farming activities are visible on the hill in the form of a cement dam and earthworks possibly for laying of waterpipes but are not of heritage significance and not further mentioned in this report. Several Iron Age sites are on record at the University of Johannesburg (Wits) database as well as the SAHRIS database surrounding the study area. During the current assessment sites from these databases in proximity to the study area was revisited and a few additional sites and features were recorded, these include Iron Age find spots, Stone Age lithics and a stone walled enclosure. Iron Age/farming community sites dating to the Leokwe facies (1010 – 1160 AD) occur within but mostly adjacent to the study area with a TK2 Iron Age site (1200 – 1250 AD) also located outside of the development footprint. Small grey patches (possibly ash from middens) are found along the northern edge of the hill often with LSA lithics. Based on the current surface observations the relationship between the LSA material and middens is not clear. These sites are all well preserved with minimal impact to the Leokwe sites (2229AD 208 &2229AD 209) from the existing access road. The study area is indicated as very sensitive on the SAHRIS paleontological map and an independent study was conducted (Bamford 2020). During the field survey no body fossils were recorded, only isolated rock fragments with trace fossils; The study area is located within the Mapungubwe World Heritage Site (WHS) buffer zone but will not negatively impact on the Outstanding Universal Value (OUV) of the site. The impact of the project on heritage resources can be mitigated to an acceptable level and it is recommended that the proposed project is approved on the condition that the following recommendations are implemented as part of the EMPr and based on approval from SAHRA: • It is recommended that the recorded sites Waypoint 172, 2229AD 295, Waypoint 174, 2229AD 296, Waypoint 176, 177, 178, 2229AD 208 and 2229AD 209 should be retained in situ. • Rerouting of the existing access road and rehabilitation of the current access road is a mitigation option but will potentially impact on other sites and is therefore not the preferred option. A better alternative will be to use the existing road as the impact has already occurred and to minimise further impact to the site. This will be subjected to a Section 35 permit as well as a management plan. There is no design report for the road but the intact deposit can be sealed by paving the area and including the management of stormwater and erosion in the site management plan; • Recorded heritage resources should be indicated on development maps and infrastructure should be located away from these areas. • Implementation of a heritage site development plan for the project; and • Implementation of a chance find procedure for the project (archaeology and palaeontology).