SiteRecordings

Swartkop, as a volcanic cone half opened by the sea, creates a cove from which rises an amphitheatre of Sea Elephants, Fur Seals and Macaroni Penguins. Two of the shelters are inter-leading. The smallest shelter is placed below the larger inter-leading shelters and to their west. This shelter is filled with deposit and could possibly be in an unfinished state.

In front of the two larger shelters are abundant remains of wooden planks. It appears that a wooden structure could have been situated in front of the shelters. Some 5 metres below the shelters, is a further collection of wooden debris. A wooden peg is still in situ in this area. The only other fixed artifact apparent on the site is an iron hoop hammered into the
top north corner of the southern shelter. The floors of the shelters appeared to have been lined with wooden planks.

Some 60 metres from the site, engraved in to the volcanic ash of the south facing cliff are the letters, T C HYSTAD. This is the name of the captain of the Sea Bird which was wrecked in 1912 off Prince Edward Island. Hystad landed on Marion Island after the wrecking of his ship. A further inscription with indecipherable letters is located above the southern shelter.

There are also some driftwood on the pebble beach around the corner from the shelters. All other caves and shelters in the vicinity showed no indication of human activity.

Artifacts
The artifacts remaining in the shelters include:
Shelter A - 

Kettle: Cast iron in lower and upper parts - joined along the waist and spout, swivel lid - with the letters ERIE in relief.
No Handle. The figure '9' in relief on the spout. The end of the spout broken off.
Height of body: 300 mm
Diameter of base. 240 mm
Diameter of lid: 160 mm
Estimated weight: 8 kg

Adze: Single bladed adze, 270 mm long, and 90 mm at its widest point. Diameter of shaft hole 60 mm.

Grindstone: Circular grindstone, sandstone, 0.25 mm grain size, square central shaft hole 30 mm square.
Diameter: 300 mm
Depth: 60 mm

Revolver: Completely rusted lacking hammer spur, butt and parts of trigger and trigger gaurd. It appears to be a Webley revolver designed and made in the United Kingdom in 1867. This revolver, generally known as the Royal Irish Constabulary Revolver, was widely used in the United Kingdom and the British Empire. The most common caliber was .450 or .455 inch (Whatley 1980, McFarland 1958, Lategan & Potgieter 1982). Imitations and variations of this revolver were sold in Europe by a mail-order firm in Hamburg at least up to 1911 (Alfa 21 1911).
Barrel length: 140 mm
Body length (to beginning of butt): 120 mm
Bore: 10 mm
Cylinder: 50 mm

Rifle: .22 calibre, in 3 parts (250 mm, 220 mm and 450 mm), chamber and recoil lug visible. Extremely corroded.

Plate: White enamel plate, edge severely corroded.
Diameter: 240 mm

Shaft: Wrought iron. 300 mm long, highly corroded

Shelter B - 
Peg: Wooden peg, 210 mm above floor level. (Possibly used for stretching skins)
Timber: Squared timber log with square nails
Length: 800 mm width
Depth: 200 mm

Shelter C
No artifacts present.

Comparative Artifact Descriptions
R W Rand (1956) noted the presence of utensils, boxes, bags and three rifles at this site.

La Grange (1952) noted the presence of a further flintlock rifle.

Cooper (1986) noted the presence of three wooden pegs.

Graham (1989) - no difference to current inventory except for three pieces of earthenware removed at the time of his inspection.