Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment for the Proposed Mining
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0 PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED MINING RIGHT APPLICATION ON SEVERAL ERVEN IN THE DRIFTSANDS AREA, PORT ELIZABETH, NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY (NMBM), EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE. Prepared for: Algoa Consulting Mining Engineers 2 Deer Park Lane, Deer Park Estate, Port Elizabeth, 6070 Tel: 041 379 1899 Cell: 083 401 8091 Contact person: Clayton Weatherall-Thomas Contact email: [email protected] Compiled by: Ms Celeste Booth t/a Booth Heritage Consulting 8 Frances Street Oatlands Grahamstown 6140 Tel: 082 062 4655 Email: [email protected] Contact person: Ms Celeste Booth Date: October 2018 1 CONTENTS 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4. 1.1. Purpose of the Study 4. 1.2. Brief Summary of Findings 4. 1.3. Recommendations 4. 2. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 6. 3. SUMMARY OF SPECIALIST EXPERIENCE 6. 4. INTRODUCTION 6. 4.1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 6. 4.1.1. Type of Development 6. 4.2. Applicant 8. 4.3. Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) 8. 5. SCOPE OF WORK / TERMS OF REFERENCE 8. 6. LEGISLATIVE AND POLICY FRAMEWORK 9. 7. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND 9. 7.1. Early Stone Age (ESA) - 1.5 million to 250 000 years ago 10. 7.2. Middle Stone Age (MSA) – 250 000 – 30 000 years ago 11. 7.3. Later Stone Age (LSA) – 30 000 years ago – recent (100 years ago) 12. 7.4. Last 2 000 years – Khoekhoen Pastoralism 14. 7.5. Last 2 000 Years - The Iron Age 15. 7.6. Human Remains 15. 8. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY 15. 8.1. Location data 15. 8.2. Map 16. 9. ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION 25. 9.1. Methodology 25. 9.2. Results of the Archaeological Investigation 25. 10. DESCRIPTION AND GRADING OF SITES 39. 10.1. Shell Scatters 39. 10.2. Driftsands Historical Dump 39. 10.3. Stonewalling 40. 10.4. Southdene Ruins 40. 11. COORDINATES AND SITES FOR THE PROPOSED RIGHT APPLICATION ON SEVERAL ERVEN IN THE DRIFTSANDS AREA, PORT ELIZABETH, NELSON MANDELA BAY (NMB) MUNICIPALITY, EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE. 41. 12. CULTURAL LANDSCAPE 41. 12.1. Concept of Cultural Landscape 42. 12.2. Archaeological Landscape 44. 12.3. Contemporary Landscape 45. 13. RECOMMENDATIONS AND MITIGATION 46 14. CONCLUSION 47. 2 15. ASSUMPTIONS, UNCERTAINTIES AND GAPS IN KNOWLEDGE 48. 16. REFERENCES 49. 17. RELEVANT ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENTS 52. LIST OF APPENDICES APPENDIX A: HERITAGE LEGISLATIVE REQUIREMENTS 58. APPENDIX B: GRADING SYSTEM 64. APPENDIX C: IDENTIFICATION OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FEATURES AND MATERIAL FROM COASTAL AND INLAND AREAS: guidelines and procedures for developers 65. LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. 1:50 000 topographic map 3325DC & DD 3425BA PORT ELIZABETH (2nd Edition, 1980) and showing the location of the proposed areas for the mining right applications. 17. Figure 2. Google Earth Pro generated aerial map showing the locations of the proposed mining right application areas. 18. Figure 3. Aerial view showing the locations of the proposed mining right application areas and nearby places (map courtesy of ACME). 19. Figure 4. Google Earth Pro generated aerial map showing the locations of the proposed mining right application areas and the extent of the Driftsands Historical Dump area. 20. Figure 5. Google Earth Pro generated aerial map showing the locations of the proposed mining right application areas and the extent of the Driftsands Historical Dump area and associated railway line. 21. Figure 6. Google Earth Pro generated aerial map showing the locations of the proposed mining right application areas and the extent of the 5km coastal archaeology sensitivity zone. 22. Figure 7. Google Earth Pro generated aerial map showing the locations of the proposed mining right application areas and sites identified during the survey. 23. Figure 8. Google Earth Pro generated aerial map showing the locations of the proposed mining right application areas and previous archaeological heritage impact assessments conducted within the surrounding area. 24. Figure 9. View of the general landscape of the proposed mining right application areas. 27. Figure 10. View of the general landscape of the proposed mining right application areas. 28. Figure 11. View of the general landscape of the proposed mining right application areas. 28. Figure 12. View of the general landscape of the proposed mining right application areas. 29. Figure 13. View of the general landscape of the proposed mining right application areas. 29. Figure 14. View of the surface exposed areas investigated for potential archaeological heritage sites. 30. Figure 15. View of the surface exposed areas investigated for potential archaeological heritage sites. 30. Figure 16. View of the surface exposed areas investigated for potential archaeological heritage sites. 31. Figure 17. View of the surface exposed areas investigated for potential archaeological heritage sites. 31. Figure 18. View of the surface exposed areas investigated for potential archaeological heritage sites. 32. Figure 19. View of the surface exposed areas investigated for potential archaeological heritage sites. 32. Figure 20. View of the surface exposed areas investigated for potential archaeological heritage sites. 33. Figure 21. View of the area between DS_SM1 that yielded scatters of shell midden material. 33. Figure 22. View of the area between DS_SM1 that yielded scatters of shell midden material. 34. Figure 23. Example of a shell scatter identified at DS_SM1. 34. Figure 24. Example of a shell scatter identified at DS_SM1. 35. Figure 25. Example of a shell occurrence in the side of a disturbed dune at DS_SM2. 35. Figures 26-29. Examples of historical artefacts related to the Driftsands Historical Dump. 36. Figure 30. View of the remains of the stonewalling situated in the north-eastern section of the proposed mining right application area. 37. Figure 31. View of the remains of the stonewalling situated in the north-eastern section of the proposed mining right application area. 37. Figure 32. View of a more intact section of the remains of the stonewalling situated in the north-eastern section of the proposed mining right application area. 38. Figure 33. View of the remains of building structure that was once the suburb of Southdene. 38. 3 LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Coordinates and Sites for the proposed mining right application on several erven in the Driftsands area, Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Municipality, Eastern Cape Province. 4 PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED MINING RIGHT APPLICATION ON SEVERAL ERVEN IN THE DRIFTSANDS AREA, PORT ELIZABETH, NELSON MANDELA BAY MUNICIPALITY (NMBM), EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE. 1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1. Purpose of the Study The purpose of the study was to conduct a phase 1 archaeological impact assessment (AIA) for the proposed mining right application on several erven in the Driftsands area, Port Elizabeth, Nelson Mandela Bay (NMB) Municipality, Eastern Cape Province. The survey was conducted to establish the range and importance of the exposed and in situ archaeological heritage material remains, sites and features; to establish the potential impact of the development; and to make recommendations to minimize possible damage to the archaeological heritage. 1.2. Brief Summary of Findings The proposed mining right application areas are located within the 5 km coastal archaeology sensitivity zone, however, only one ephemeral surface shell scatter was identified, which is probably associated with precolonial midden material. One oxystele sinensis was identified in the side of a disturbed dune. The proposed mining right application areas are also located within the Driftsands Historical Dump area. Several historical artefacts distributed across the proposed area were documented. These artefacts are associated with the late nineteenth century / early twentieth century Driftsands Historical Dump that extended from Happy Valley to Sardinia Bay. The remains of mostly a collapsed stone wall were also identified along one of the internal gravel roads within the north-eastern section of the proposed mining right application area. A few portions of the stone wall are relatively intact. The ruins of the suburb of Southdene were identified within the north-eastern most portion, between the airport and the Forest Hill Cemetery, of the proposed mining right application area. 1.3. Recommendations and Mitigation In view of the archaeological findings from the survey investigation the overall area can be considered as having a low archaeological heritage significance. However, the area 5 does occur within the 5 km coastal archaeology sensitivity zone. Despite not observing any significant in situ precolonial archaeological sites, the area is considered has having a high archaeological heritage significance. The following recommendations must be considered during the course of development and those relevant must be implemented before development commences: 1. As the mining right application allows for the mining operations to continue for 30 years it may not be intended for the whole area to be mined, but only portions of the area over time. It is therefore recommended that the mining company work closely with the author of this report or any other professional archaeologist of their choice that once specific mining areas have been identified that the archaeologist conduct a walk- through of the specific area to identify any surface exposed indications of precolonial heritage. 2. A professional archaeologist, familiar with coastal archaeological sites, must be appointed to be on-site and monitor the vegetation clearing and topsoil removal. If required, Phase 2 mitigation in the form