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1 PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT THE LEBONE SOLAR FARM, ONVERWAG RE/728 AND VAALKRANZ 2/220, WELKOM, FREE STATE, SOUTH AFRICA DATE: 2013-10-17 REPORT TO: ADEL GROENEWALD (Enviroworks) Tel: 086 198 8895; Fax: 086 719 7191; Postal Address: Suite 116, Private Bag X01, Brandhof, 9301; E-mail: [email protected] ANDREW SALOMON (South African Heritage Resources Agency - SAHRA) Tel: 021 462 4505; Fax: 021 462 4509; Postal Address: P.O. Box 4637, Cape Town, 8000; E-mail: [email protected] PREPARED BY: KAREN VAN RYNEVELD (ArchaeoMaps) Tel: 084 871 1064; Fax: 086 515 6848; Postal Address: Postnet Suite 239, Private Bag X3, Beacon Bay, 5205; E-mail: [email protected] THE LEBONE SOLAR FARM, ONVERWAG RE/728 AND VAALKRANZ 2/220, WELKOM, FS ENVIROWORKS 2 SPECIALIST DECLARATION OF INTEREST I, Karen van Ryneveld (Company – ArchaeoMaps; Qualification – MSc Archaeology), declare that: o I am suitably qualified and accredited to act as independent specialist in this application; o I do not have any financial or personal interest in the application, ’ proponent or any subsidiaries, aside from fair remuneration for specialist services rendered; and o That work conducted has been done in an objective manner – and that any circumstances that may have compromised objectivity have been reported on transparently. SIGNATURE – DATE – 2013-10-17 THE LEBONE SOLAR FARM, ONVERWAG RE/728 AND VAALKRANZ 2/220, WELKOM, FS ENVIROWORKS 3 PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT THE LEBONE SOLAR FARM, ONVERWAG RE/728 AND VAALKRANZ 2/220, WELKOM, FREE STATE, SOUTH AFRICA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TERMS OF REFERENCE - Enviroworks has been appointed by the project proponent, Lebone Solar Farm (Pty) Ltd, to prepare and submit the EIA and EMPr for the proposed 75MW photovoltaic (PV) solar facility on the properties Remaining Extent of Farm Onverwag 728 and Portion 2 of Farm Vaalkranz 220 near Welkom in the Free State, South Africa. The Lebone Solar Farm development area will constitute a total laydown footprint of approximately 194ha which will include associated infrastructure such as an on-site substation, wiring between the PV mirror and the substation, internal access roads, security infrastructure and a storage area. ArchaeoMaps was appointed by Enviroworks to prepare the Phase 1 AIA for the project. THE PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT - PROJECT AREA: 634ha Onverwag RE/728 and Vaalkrans 2/220 Lebone Solar Farm study site, Welkom, Free State [1:50,000 map ref – 2826BB]. COVERAGE & GAP ANALYSIS: Pre-feasibility and field assessment. FIELD METHODOLOGY: Two day field assessment; GPS co-ordinates – Garmin Oregon 550; Photographic documentation – Pentax K20D. Site significance assessment – SAHRA 2007 system. SUMMARY: Code Site Co-ordinates Recommendations Lebone Solar Farm – Onverwag RE/728 & Vaalkrans2/220, Welkom, FS LSF-S1 Colonial Period – S28°04’15.8”E26°55’58.2” Conservation: Temporary fence & Permanent sign-posting Farming Infrastructure OR Destruction: Under a SAHRA / FS-PHRA Site Destruction Permit LSF-S2 Colonial Period – S28°03’40.0”E26°54’40.3” Conservation: Temporary fence & Permanent sign-posting Cultural Landscape OR Destruction: Without a SAHRA Site Destruction Permit LSF-S3 Colonial Period – S28°04’26.0”E26°54’28.9” Conservation: Temporary fence & Permanent sign-posting Farmstead OR Phase 2 archaeological mitigation: Systematic recording and test pitting under a SAHRA Excavation Permit. LSF-S4 Colonial Period – S28°04’37.5”E26°54’14.9” Conservation: Temporary fence & Permanent sign-posting Structure Remains OR Phase 2 archaeological mitigation: Systematic recording and test pitting under a SAHRA Excavation Permit. LSF-S5 Colonial (Industrial) Period – S28°04’52.0”E24°54’25.2” Conservation (No additional conservation measures on behalf Railway Bridge of the developer) RECOMMENDATIONS – With reference to archaeological and cultural heritage compliance, as per the requirements of the NHRA 1999, it is recommended that the proposed Lebone Solar Farm, Onverwag RE/728 and Vaalkrans 2/220, Welkom, Free State, proceed as applied for provided the developer comply with the abovementioned summarized recommendations. THE LEBONE SOLAR FARM, ONVERWAG RE/728 AND VAALKRANZ 2/220, WELKOM, FS ENVIROWORKS 4 CONTENTS 1) TERMS OF REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................................6 Development Location, Details and Impact.......................................................................................................6 2) THE PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ...................................................................................9 Archaeological Legislative Compliance..............................................................................................................9 Methodology and Gap Analysis..........................................................................................................................9 Principle Assessor Accreditation ...................................................................................................................... 10 2.1) PRE-FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT..................................................................................................................................11 The SAHRA 2009 Database ...............................................................................................................................11 SAHRA Built Environment Database – Free State .......................................................................................... 13 General Discussion .............................................................................................................................................. 13 2.2) FIELD ASSESSMENT .....................................................................................................................................................16 LSF-S1: Colonial Period – Farming Infrastructure – ©’”©’” ......................................20 LSF-S2: Colonial Period – Cultural Landscape – ©’”©’”...........................................21 LSF-S3: Colonial Period – Farmstead – ©’”©’”..........................................................22 LSF-S4: Colonial Period – Structure Remains – ©’”©’”.............................................24 LSF-S5: Colonial (Industrial) Period – Railway Bridge – ©’”©’”............................. 25 2.3) CULTURAL LANDSCAPES AND VIEWSCAPES...................................................................................................... 26 The Colonial Period Cultural Landscape.......................................................................................................... 27 3) RECOMMENDATIONS ..............................................................................................................................................28 4) REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................ 29 APPENDIX – A - Introduction to the Archaeology of South Africa APPENDIX – B - Extracts from the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999) THE LEBONE SOLAR FARM, ONVERWAG RE/728 AND VAALKRANZ 2/220, WELKOM, FS ENVIROWORKS 5 LIST OF TABLES - Table 1: SAHRA archaeological and cultural heritage site significance assessment............................................................................ 10 Table 2: Provincial Heritage Sites situated in the general vicinity of the Lebone Solar Farm............................................................. 13 Table 3: Development and Phase 1 AIA findings – co-ordinate details................................................................................................ 28 LIST OF FIGURES - Figure 1: Registration of the R73 through the eastern portion of Onverwag RE/728 in 1960 (CSG Record 170/1960)................... 14 Figure 2: Vaalkranz 220 registered in 1882 (CSG Record 7/1882)........................................................................................................ 15 LIST OF MAPS - Map 1: 1:50,000 2826BB indicating the locality of the Lebone Solar Farm........................................................................................... 7 Map 2: General locality of the Lebone Solar Farm near Welkom in the Free State.............................................................................. 8 Map 3: Locality of the Lebone Solar Farm on the properties Onverwag RE/728 and Vaalkranz 2/220 .............................................. 8 Map 4: Phase 1 AIA assessment findings (white – tracklog)................................................................................................................. 17 LIST OF PLATES - Plate 1: View of the eastern extremity of Onverwag RE/728 ............................................................................................................... 18 Plate 2: The Rietspruit River across the property Onverwag RE/728................................................................................................... 18 Plate 3: An animal burrow indicating sub-surface anthropogenic sterility at Onverwag RE/728...................................................... 18 Plate 4: View across the western portion of Onverwag RE/728........................................................................................................... 18 Plate 5: View of the northern part of Vaalkranz 2/220 ........................................................................................................................