Permits

For excavation and sampling in the Rising Star Cave System within the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site, Gauteng Province. The permit includes filming for educational purposes.

Conditions:

1. This permit is issued to Prof Lee R. Berger (Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand).

2. The permit holder provided SAHRA with the names and qualifications of authorised representatives, i.e. Marina Elliott (lead excavations) and Steve Tucker (lead cavers).

3. Excavation activities will include using a suitable grid system, recording, labelling and bagging. A site map must be created and a total station must be used to record the finds.

4. Adequate recording methods as specified in the Regulations and Guidelines pertaining to the National Heritage Resources Act must be employed. Note that the position of all excavations and objects collected must be marked on a plan of the site. Materials will be bagged per quadrant and labeled carefully.

5. A standard site record form must be lodged with the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand.

6. All material collected and excavated, as well as field notes and records, will be curated by the Evolutionary Studies Institute, University of the Witwatersrand, who will be responsible for the permanent curation and safekeeping of all artefactual material in a condition that allows ongoing research.

7. Annual permit reports on the results of the excavations analyses and filming must be submitted to SAHRA via email on or before 31 December 2019 and 2020, and a final permit report on or before 31 December 2021. SAHRA reserves the right to withhold further permits if progress is not deemed satisfactory. Permit reports can be made available to researchers on request within three years of the lapsing of this permit.

8. Reprints of all published papers or copies of theses and/or reports resulting from this work must be lodged with SAHRA.

9. The permit holder or an authorized crew member must be on site to monitor and supervise filming and film crews. Suitable filming equipment must be used. The amount of traffic, i.e. numbers of people on site, should be minimised as much as possible to avoid excessive disturbance of the site. Copies of the filming resulting from this work must be lodged with SAHRA on or before the 31 December 2021.

10. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to obtain permission from the landowner for each visit, and the excavator is responsible for ensuring that he or she has an understanding with the landowner concerning: the number of visitors and workers; conditions for camping on the property; speed limits on access roads; possible prohibitions on off-road driving; size, type and number of vehicles permitted; possible prohibitions on trespassing beyond the site; disturbing fauna, flora or substrate; erection and demolition of structures on the site; appropriate hours of visiting and working on the site; use of firewood, electricity and water; lighting fires and the prevention of uncontrolled fires and any fencing necessary to protect livestock. Conditions of access imposed by the landowner must be observed.

11. The permit holder shall be responsible for the activities and impacts of all colleagues, students and employees under his or her supervision.

12. Excavators must take measures to ensure the safety of any person who may enter the excavation site as part of their excavation team or as their visitor.

13. It is the responsibility of the permit holder to protect sites during and after excavation and filming and to ensure that, where appropriate, excavations are filled in or stabilised with adequate materials (e.g. Loffelstein blocks or army bags in geotextile) to the satisfaction of SAHRA and the landowner.

14. SAHRA shall not be liable for any losses, damages or injuries to persons or properties as a result of any activities in connection with this permit.

15. A copy of the permit must be kept on site at all time during excavations.

16. SAHRA reserves the right to cancel this permit by notice to the permit holder.

17. This permit is subject to a general appeal and may be suspended should an appeal against the decisions be received by SAHRA within 14 days from the date of the permit. SAHRA may not be held responsible for any costs or losses incurred in the event of the suspension or retraction of this permit.

18. Request to renew permits must be done at least two months prior to the expiry of the existing permit.