Sites

EXX01a/b was monitored and sampled throughout 2007. In 1995, several
stone tools and pottery sherds were observed. The stone tools probably date to
the Late Stone Age. The sherds date to the Early Iron Age and the Late Iron Age
or Historical Period. The artefacts became more numerous towards the top of the
hill and we observed fragments of slag.
We surveyed along various road cuttings that went into the sugar cane field
and noted two Ntshekane sherds and more pieces of slag. It appears that the
main site occurs under the current sugar cane. This is the first Ntshekane period
site to be recorded in the Hillendale vicinity. Other Ntshekane sites have been
recorded north of Richards Bay, and this site will be useful as a comparative site.
The artefacts consist of the following:
 Various pieces of slag
 A few tuyère fragments
 Quartz and quartzite hammer stones and flakes were observed
 Pottery:
o Mostly thin-walled and undecorated. These probably date to
the Late Iron Age or Historical Period
o A few Ntshekane sherds, of which one was thin-walled and
decorated
 Stone: A few upper grinding stones
 Bone: A few fragments of (assumed) domestic bovid. These are on
the surface and can date from last year backwards.