Sites

"BCSB 4 comprises `a large, 40 m x 15 m, level scatter of limpet and perlemoen shell situated on top of and extending landward of the cobble cordon at the southern end of the very rocky bay southwest of Mauritzbaai. This is an interesting shell midden with potsherds, occasional bone fragments but no stone tools…' (Parkington & Poggenpoel 1987:5). Parkington and Poggenpoel (1987:12) conclude that BSCB 4 is `an important archaeological site…' and `that there should be no further destruction of these (sites) until excavations by professional archaeologists have extracted the information they contain'. Avery (1987:3) also describes `remnants of midden' and `sparse patches of shell' near the northern and eastern boundary fence of Tooth Rock (the old SADF testing range). Like Parkington and Poggenpoel (1987), Avery (1987:3) also describes `virtually uninterrupted scatters' and concentrations of shellfish remains, and stone tools along the raised cobble berm. Parkington and Poggenpoel (1987) also reflect on the close relationship between the Jacobsbaai/Mauritzbaai archaeological remains and the prominent cobble cordon, which runs through the area. They note that the cordon crests at about 5 or 6 m above modern mean sea level, and likely reflects an ancient mid-Holocene shoreline when the seas stood a few metres higher relative to the land some 3000 to 5000 years ago.