Date: October 30, 2012 Attention Ms Ann Roese Ann Roese Quantity Surveyors PrQS 2320 Tel: 021 447 2710 Fax: 086 513 5408 Cell: 083 402 3007 Email:annroese@cybersmart.co.za Dear Ms Roese Trial excavations: Prestwich Precinct Please find included a proposal for the attention of yourself and the proponent. Included is a brief company profile, a proposal for the work envisaged. An estimate of costs will be forwarded to you in the form of an Excel spreadsheet. I have also attached BEE information, and an abbreviated version of my personal CV. Hopefully we have resolved our issues with SARS so a tax certificate will be sent to you shortly. We have also commenced registration with the W.C. Supplier database and will keep you informed of progress. As ever let me know if there is anything further I can provide. SAHRA has indicated that we should lodge a permit application. ACO-Associates looks forward to working with yourselves and the Western Cape Department of Public Works. Yours sincerely Tim Hart (partner) Proposal to conduct trial excavations at the Prestwich Precinct in Cape Town Prepared by Tim Hart for ACO Associates CC. October 2012 Purpose of work To conduct trial excavations on three historical burial grounds situated in the Prestwich Street area, these being historically parts of erven; Erf 202 Lutheran Cemetery (now Prestwich School) Erf 566 The Roman Catholic cemetery being previously part of the Somerset Hospital cemetery, and previously the part of the Dutch East Company Military Cemetery (now Government property leased by the Salesians Institute). Erven 734 and 738 The old Dutch Reformed Cemetery established by the Dutch East India Company now divided over a number of properties. The portion in question is occupied by the Pavement Testing Laboratory. Introduction The above which includes the oldest formal European cemeteries in South Africa stopped being officially utilised in the mid-19th century and gradually began to be exhumed after a lengthy consultation process and an Act of Parliament in 1909 which allowed for the de-proclamation and exhumation of Green Points old cemeteries(the Disused Cemeteries Act). The human remains were then re-interred at the new cemeteries established at Maitland. The cemeteries were exhumed on an as needed basis by convict labour between 1909 and 1930. The land was set aside for use for education and humanitarian purposes. Although the clearance of the old cemeteries is mandated by an Act of Parliament, new legislation in the form of Section 36 of the National Heritage Rescources Act applies. Recent development activities along with a number of archaeological studies have revealed that the effectiveness of exhumation was variable. Clearly where burial vaults were in use, these were opened and the human remains collected and removed. Excavations conducted in the Anglican Cemetery (now the Victoria Junction Hotel) located a number of complete human skeletons missed by the early process. A similar situation appears to have occurred on the grounds of the Dutch Reformed Cemetery, whereas the situation at the Lutheran and Catholic, and DRC cemeteries (subject of this study) remains unknown. It must be noted that the persons interred in these cemeteries were members of the Dutch East India Company and later person of European origin during the British colonial period. The proposed project is to trial-excavate the cemeteries to determine the quality of the exhumation and the implications for future development of the sites. Conditions on each of the three sites are slightly different and may require different approaches. Permits Two heritage related permits are required. * A burials permit is required from SAHRA * A permit to excavate, destroy or remove archaeological material including buried structures will be required from Heritage Western Cape. Permits will be applied for by ACO -Associates Public Process SAHRA may ask that intent to open the cemeteries be advertised as per their regulations. This is best done by the proponent using their logo on site and in a regional and national news-paper. Should the PP need to go beyond advertising, it is suggested that a professional Public Process facilitator is hired. A dedicated telephone number and email address should be established to this end. SAHRA is however encourage to note that relocation of human remains is not intended at this time, and that the Prestwich Precinct is covered by a ministerial decision which followed lengthy consultation. The original closest living relatives were consulted in the lead up to the 1909 Act. Radar Scan After some deliberation with colleagues it was felt that a radar scan on each site, but especially erf 566 be undertaken. ACO-Associates has used this technology before through David Wolmerans of “4water supplies Pty Ltd” with good results. The radar scan will help establish the depth to which we will need to test, the excavation strategy required and the equipment needed. The radar scan can take place at any time (not equipment used for detection of metals therefore authority permit not required). Excavation Staff Provision has been made to utilise two workers who have prior experience, two – three senior post-graduate students and a “principal investigator” accredited archaeologist for the duration of the work which is expected to require 6 weeks field time, followed by two weeks of report preparation. A written report on the findings is required by both Heritage Western Cape and SAHRA. Equipment Provision has been made for the hire of a light mechanical excavator and operator although under some circumstances ACO staff may elect to operate the machine themselves depending on the sensitivity required (we have experience). The bulk earthmoving to achieve the required depth will be done by machine, while the final work will be done by hand with small tools. Provision has been made for the hire of 90 m of site fencing to secure the excavations and create an exclusion zone big enough to contain the excavation hole and temporary spoil heap. Record Keeping Record keeping will be done with site notes, sketches, digital video and photographs. Methodological considerations Erf 202 The Lutheran cemetery. This is the youngest of the three burial grounds, some 14 000 remains were exhumed from it. Anticipated size of excavation 2-2.5 x5x5 m, possible target area is at end of playground adjacent to shed where tar surface is already in poor condition. This work is best done during a school break in terms of health and safety issues. Only one layer of vaults/graves is anticipated. Erf 566 Salesians. The oldest formal colonial cemetery in RSA, and potentially the most complex to excavate. There is a possibility of multiple layer burials at between 2 and 4 m below the existing ground surface (which is raised). According to records only 800 persons were exhumed which leads us to believe this site may be busy. It will be necessary to break through the first later of vaults to check underneath for earlier material. Radar scans will assist significantly in this regard. Target areas (as needed) anticipated are on either side of the central statue. Ground penetrating radar to assist in determining hole size, which may need to be stepped/shored for safety reasons. Erf 734, 738 The below ground conditions of the site are unknown, again there may be considerable depth of burials in places. The ground penetrating radar scan will assist in determining a target area for excavation and the depth and size of holes that are required. It is suggested that three areas on the site are tested. It must be noted that it is not the purpose of this work to exhume human remains, but determine the following: * Presence or absence of human remains * The condition and form of vaults and burial furnishings * To gather information to inform future processes. Making good ACO will backfill and tidy up after work, but will not re-establish tarmac surface. Where lawn is involved we will remove carefully and try to replant. It is more cost effective for Public Works Dept re-establish surfaces internally or hire a contractor. Fees The fees charged for this project are not based on ACO consulting rate but are based on salaries, company running costs and disbursements which is a discounted rate for long projects. Only meetings that take place outside of the period set aside for excavation will be charged at full rate. Project initiation It would be desirable that disbursement costs are paid to ACO Associates upfront so that equipment can be hired. Thereafter invoices will be submitted monthly based on hours worked and project costs. Timing: Unfortunately it is not possible to predict the turn-around time for the issuing of a burial permit from SAHRA due to capacity issues within the organisation. It is also important to take into consideration 60 days minimum may be required for advertising prior to issuing of the permit depending on the conditions that are set. An excavation permit from Heritage Western Cape will take a month to be issued from time of submission. It is suggested that the permit application to SAHRA along with supporting documents be submitted before the end of November to allow for a trial excavation program to commence in the first quarter of 2013. Ideally the period of work should include the first quarter school holiday of the year (29 March – 7 April 2013) so that the risk to scholars is reduced. A target date of March 1 for commencement of the physical programme is suggested, with an anticipated end date of 31 May 2013. ACO for the good of the project, is prepared to apply for the permits prior to appointment. Appendix with CV, profile and BEE certificate (tax certificate will be available shortly) Company: UCT Archaeology ACO & Partner ACO Associates Name: Timothy Hart Nationality: South African Profession Archaeologist and general heritage practitioner Position Co-Director Date of Birth 29 07 60 Specialisation (PI accreditations) Archaeological assessments, Heritage Impact Assessments, Heritage Conservation Planning. ASAPA accredited for pre-colonial archaeology, colonial period, rock art, industrial archaeology, coastal archaeology, grave relocation. Start date with ACO 1987 - present Experience: 24 years Tim Hart has a Masters degree in Archaeology which he obtained after an extended period of fieldwork studying Late Stone Age Archaeology in the Great Karoo (Eastern Cape) working under prof Garth Sampson of Southern Methodist University (USA), Since 1987 in professional practise in heritage he has been involved in a wide rage of heritage related projects ranging from excavation of fossil and Stone Age sites to the conservation of historic buildings, places and industrial structures. To date he has led and completed with the ACO team over 1000 projects throughout the country ranging from minor assessments to participating as a specialist in a number of substantial EIA’s as well as international research projects. Together with his colleague Dave Halkett he has been involved in heritage policy development, development of the profession, the establishment of 2 professional bodies and development of professional practice standards. Notable projects he has been involved with are the development of a heritage management plan and ongoing annual mitigation for the De Beers Namaqualand Mines Division, heritage management for Namakwa Sands and other west coast and Northern Cape mining firms. Locally, Tim Hart was responsible for the discovery of the “Battery Chavonnes” at the V&A Waterfront (now a conserved as a museum), the discovery of a massive paupers burial ground in Green Point (now a National Heritage Site), the fossil deposit which is now the subject of a public display at the West Coast Fossil Park as well as participating in the development of the Robben Island Museum world heritage site (ongoing). A recent significant appointment is to assist with the development of a conservation policy for the Houses of Parliament. Tim Hart has teaching and research experience within a university setting and has given many public lectures on archaeology and general heritage related matters. In the forthcoming years he will be running a NLF funded project (R1.2m) to research the burial grounds of Green Point. Tim Hart and David Halkett took over the running of the Archaeology Contracts Office at University of Cape Town in 1991 and established the private consulting firm ACO Associates in 2010. Tim Hart remains associated with UCT through joint research projects. Some selected project Experience: * Specialist Specialist consultant – Eskom’s Kudu Integration project (identifying transmission line routes across Namaqualand) * Specialist consultant – Eskom’s Atantis Open Cycle Gas Turbine project, upgrade and power lines * Specilaist consultant – Eskom’s Mossel Bay Open Cycle Gas Turbine project, substations and power lines * Excavation and conservations of the Chavonnes Battery, Waterfront Cape Town. * Excavation of VOC paupers burial ground (Prestwich), Cape Town. * Research collaboration with RG Klein (University of Stanford University) to set up and participate in Duinefontein Archaeological Research project, Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and Yzerfontein MSA site, West Coast. * Heading up R1.3m research study (NLDF) human burials in Green Point. * Specialist consultant – Eskoms Nuclear 1 programme in Eastern and Western Cape * Specialist consultant – Eskoms PBMR programme * Specialist consultant – Department of Water Affairs raising of Clanwilliam Dam project * Specialist consultant to De Beers Namaqualand Mines (multiple projects since 1995) * Specialist consultant – Saldanha Ore Handling Facility phase 2 upgrade * Wind Energy systems: Koekenaap, Hopefield, Darling, Vredendal, Bedford, Sutherland, Caledon * Specialist consultant – Eskom nuclear 1 (ongoing) * Bantamsklip Nuclear 1 TX lines * Koeberg Nuclear 1 TX lines * Karoo uranium prospecting various sites * HIA Houses of Parliament COMPANY PROFILE ACO ASSOCIATES cc Name ACO Associates cc Registration number 2008/234490/23 Principal business Archaeological and Heritage Impact Assessment Tax reference no 989/8031/15/1 Vat no 4160257996 Members David Halkett Timothy Hart Associates Jayson Orton Lita Webley Liesbet Schietecatte Postal address 8 Jacobs Ladder, 7945 St James Physical address Unit C26 Prime Park, 21 Mocke Road, 7800 Diep River E-mail david.halkett@aco-associates.com tim.hart@aco-associates.com jayson.orton@aco-associates.com lita.webley@aco-associates.com liesbet.schietecatte@aco-associates.com Phone 021 706 4104 Fax 086 603 7195 ACO Associates cc was established in late 2008 as an allied operation to the Archaeology Contracts Office at the University of Cape Town, which was directed by David Halkett and Tim Hart since 1991. In June 2012, we moved off-campus. The change to a company enables us to take on a wider range of projects, to provide cost effective pricing for smaller projects and to respond flexibly to client’s needs and requests. We are assisted by Dr Lita Webley (Phd), Mr Jayson Orton (MSc, Phd candidate Oxford) and Ms Liesbet Schietecatte (MPhil, MSc). Our principal business remains Archaeological and Heritage Impact Assessments arising from the requirements of the National Heritage Resources Act (Act 25 of 1999), frequently arising out of the requirements of Environmental Impact Assessments. With over 80 years of accumulated experience, and having completed over 1000 projects, members of ACO Associates cc are equipped to handle assignments ranging from detailed, sensitive excavations, to large-scale field surveys and assessments of historic places. The team will work anywhere where their skills can be effectively used both in South Africa and abroad but finds itself working most often in the Northern Cape, Eastern Cape and Western Cape. We frequently function as part of multidisciplinary teams on EIA projects and understand the need to provide efficient service and meet deadlines. Our areas of heritage expertise in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, and our areas of accreditation with ASAPA are: * Preparation of the NID (Notice of Intent to Develop) form for Heritage Western Cape; * Assessment, excavation and/or management of pre-colonial sites such as shell middens, stone artefact scatters, rock art sites, cave deposits dating to the Early, Middle and Late Stone Ages as well as late Pleistocene fossil bone accumulations. We are also able to assess pre-colonial burials and undertake their recovery should it be necessary; * Assessment, excavation and/or management of colonial sites, middens, exhumation/relocation of cemeteries, analysis of building sequences, industrial structures, historic landscapes and features; * The analysis and curation of artefacts from both colonial and pre-colonial contexts. We can facilitate artefact conservation through outsourcing; * The development of conservation and management plans for a variety of heritage sites. * The team is equipped with two off-road vehicles for remote work, has spacious premises where analysis and curation projects can be undertaken. ACO Associates through their involvement with UCT has a solid research publication record, undertakes teaching and conducts applied research for other institutions. ACO Associates cc. Company Reg: CK 2008/234490/23 VAT Reg: 4160257996 Members: D Halkett & T Hart Associates: J. Orton, L. Webley, E. Schietecatte