Sites

Shell Midden: This substantial midden forms a prominent mound (Plate 6) immediately west of the parking area. Its size, roughly 50X80m, makes it one of the largest on the Cape Peninsula. An examination of its surface revealed the presence of quartzite flakes, fragments of red ochre and Cape Coastal pottery indicating that it accumulated after 2000 years ago and may be contemporary and associated with the tidal fish traps. No ostrich eggshell beads were seen, although it is expected that these would have been present. It is likely that any noticeable surface finds will have been collected by day-trippers who have frequented the area for many years. The shellfish, which make up the bulk of material on the midden are dominated by an unusually wide variety of Patella species with Patella argenvillae being visually dominant. Also noticed were Patella cochlear, Patella barbara, Patella granularis, Patella granatina as well as a variety of Burnupena sp, Turbo sarmaticus and Haliotis midae. Choromytilus meridionalis, which can be collected from more exposed shorelines than that of Buffelsbaai area, are present on the site but not dominant. Significance: The site is significant for a number of reasons. Well preserved shell middens on the Cape Peninsula are rare, and those that survive are all that is left of what were many that have been destroyed by development activities. The site is in all likelihood stratified. This means that the midden accumulated in layers representing different occupation events. The midden probably contains the bones of the various species of fish that could have been caught in the tidal fish traps, and as such contains potentially important information about changing marine environment.