Upgrade of the Magalabanqa, Qhorha and Ng7aba7a
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PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT UPGRADE OF THE MAGALAKANQA, QHORHA AND NGXAKAXA VILLAGE ROADS & USE OF 4 BORROW PITS, N2 - BETWEEN KOMGA AND MTHATHA, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA DATE: 2013-04-05 REPORT TO: MARY-ANNE CROCKER (Gibb Engineering & Science) Tel: 043 706 3642; Fax: 043 721 0141; Postal Address: P.O. Box 19844, Tecoma, 5214; E-mail: [email protected] SELLO MOKHANYA (Eastern Cape Provincial Heritage Resources Authority – EC PHRA, APM Unit) Tel: 043 642 2811; Fax: 043 642 2812; Postal Address: P.O. Box 16208, Amathole Valley, 5616; E-mail: [email protected] PREPARED BY: KAREN VAN RYNEVELD (ArchaeoMaps Archaeological Consultancy) Tel: 084 871 1064; Fax: 086 515 6848; Postal Address: Postnet Suite 239, Private Bag X3, Beacon Bay, 5205; E-mail: [email protected] 2 SPECIALIST DECLARATION OF INTEREST I, Karen van Ryneveld (Company – ArchaeoMaps; Qualification – MSc Archaeology), declare that: o I act as the independent specialist in this application; o I will perform the work relating to the application in an objective manner, even if this results in views and findings that are not favourable to the applicant; o I declare that there are no circumstances that may compromise my objectivity in performing such work; o I have expertise in conducting the specialist report relevant to this application, including knowledge of the Act, regulations and any guidelines that have relevance to the proposed activity; o I will comply with the Act, regulations and all other applicable legislation; o I have no, and will not engage in, conflicting interests in the undertaking of the activity; o I undertake to disclose to the applicant and the competent authority all material information in my possession that reasonably has or may have the potential of influencing any decision to be taken with respect to the application by the competent authority and the objectivity of any report, plan or document to be prepared by myself for submission to the competent authority; o All the particulars furnished by me in this form are true and correct; and o I realise that a false declaration is an offence in terms of Regulation 71 and is punishable in terms of section 24F of the Act. SIGNATURE – DATE – 2013-04-05 MAGALAKANQA, QHORHA AND NGXAKAXA VILLAGE ROAD UPGRADE AND USE OF 4 BORROW PITS, EC GIBB ENGINEERING & SCIENCE 3 PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT UPGRADE OF THE MAGALAKANQA, QHORHA AND NGXAKAXA VILLAGE ROADS & USE OF 4 BORROW PITS, N2 - BETWEEN KOMGA AND MTHATHA, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY TERMS OF REFERENCE - Gibb has been appointed by the project proponent, the DRPW, Eastern Cape, to prepare the BARs and EMPs for the proposed Upgrade of the Magalakanqa, Qhorha and Ngxagaka Village Roads and 4 Borrow Pits, Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape. The villages of Magalakanqa, Qhorha and Ngxaxaka are situated between Butterworth and Idutywa. A combined total of approximately 24km of village roads are proposed for upgrading. Material from 4 borrow pits will be used for the proposed upgrading development, as well as for on-going upgrading of the N2. The 4 borrow pits are situated between the towns of Komga and Mthatha. All 4 borrow pit study sites will measure approximately 1.5ha in size. ArchaeoMaps was appointed by Gibb to conduct the Phase 1 AIA for the development. THE PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT - PROJECT AREA: Approximately 24km linear development, including Magalakanqa, Qhorha and Ngxakaxa villages and 4 borrow pits, between Komga and Mthatha, Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape [1:50,000 map ref – 3227BD, 3228AC, 3228AB and 3228CD]. COVERAGE & GAP ANALYSIS: Pre-feasibility and field assessment. FIELD METHODOLOGY: Three day field assessment; GPS co-ordinates – Garmin Oregon 550; Photographic documentation – Pentax K20D. Archaeological and cultural heritage site significance assessment and mitigation recommendations – SAHRA 2007 system. SUMMARY: Map Code Site Co-ordinates Recommendations Upgrade of the Magalakanqa, Qhorha and Ngxakaxa Village Roads & use of 4 Borrow Pits BP1 Borrow Pit 1 S33°27'18.2"; E27°58'18.3" N/A Magalakanqa Magalakanqa Village S32°’"; E28°13'14.1" Site MGL-1: (probable site) MGL-1 Colonial Period structures (?) S32°’”E28°’” Conservation measures in place BP4 Borrow Pit 4 S32°15'31.8"; E28°15'00.0" N/A BP5 Borrow Pit 5 S32°15'14.3"; E28°14'42.5" N/A Qhorha Qhorha Village S32°14'12.5"; E28°14'16.9" Site CHR-1: CHR-1 Late Iron Age homestead °2'58.1"; °2'39.5" Permanent or Temporary conservation Ngxakaxa Ngxakaxa Village S32°07'45.1"; E28°16'23.2" N/A (Caution during construction to not impact on fenced graves and cemeteries situated adjacent to the study site) BP8 Borrow Pit 8 S31°57'34.0"; E28°20'28.4" N/A RECOMMENDATIONS – With reference to archaeological and cultural heritage compliance, as per the requirements of the NHRA 1999, it is recommended that the proposed Upgrade of the Magalakanqa, Qhorha and Ngxagaka Village Roads and 4 Borrow Pits project, Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape, proceeds as applied for provided the developer comply with the abovementioned summarized recommendations. MAGALAKANQA, QHORHA AND NGXAKAXA VILLAGE ROAD UPGRADE AND USE OF 4 BORROW PITS, EC GIBB ENGINEERING & SCIENCE 4 PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT UPGRADE OF THE MAGALAKANQA, QHORHA AND NGXAKAXA VILLAGE ROADS & USE OF 4 BORROW PITS, N2 - BETWEEN KOMGA AND MTHATHA, EASTERN CAPE, SOUTH AFRICA CONTENTS 1) TERMS OF REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................................7 Development Location, Details and Impact.......................................................................................................7 2) THE PHASE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ................................................................................ 10 Archaeological Legislative Compliance........................................................................................................... 10 Methodology and Gap Analysis....................................................................................................................... 10 Assessor Accreditation ........................................................................................................................................11 2.1) PRE-FEASIBILITY ASSESSMENT.................................................................................................................................12 The SAHRA 2009 Database ..............................................................................................................................12 The Feely & Bell-Cross 2011 Database.............................................................................................................. 13 General Discussion ..............................................................................................................................................14 2.2) FIELD ASSESSMENT .....................................................................................................................................................16 2.2.1) BORROW PIT 1 – ©’”©’”......................................................................................................17 2.2.2) MAGALAKANQA VILLAGE - ©’”©’” ..............................................................................19 2.2.3) BORROW PIT 4 – ©’”©’”................................................................................................... 23 2.2.4) BORROW PIT 5 – ©’”©’”.................................................................................................... 25 2.2.5) QHORHA VILLAGE – ©’”©’”............................................................................................. 27 Site CHR-1: Late Iron Age (Homestead), ©’”©’” .........................................................30 2.2.6) NGXAKAXA VILLAGE – ©’”©’”.......................................................................................33 2.2.7) BORROW PIT 8 – ©’”©’”...................................................................................................37 3) CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS..........................................................................................................39 4) REFERENCES................................................................................................................................................................40 APPENDIX – A - Introduction to the Archaeology of South Africa APPENDIX – B - Extracts from the National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999) MAGALAKANQA, QHORHA AND NGXAKAXA VILLAGE ROAD UPGRADE AND USE OF 4 BORROW PITS, EC GIBB ENGINEERING & SCIENCE 5 LIST OF TABLES - Table 1: SAHRA archaeological and cultural heritage site significance assessment............................................................................ 11 Table 2: Development and Phase 1 AIA findings – co-ordinate details................................................................................................ 39 LIST OF MAPS - Map 1: 1:50,000 map ref 3128CD, 3228AB, 3228AC and 3227BD indicating the locality of the Magalakanqa, Qhorha and Ngxakaxa Village Road Upgrade & Use of 4 Borrow Pits study site....................................................................................................... 8 Map 2: General locality of the Magalakanqa, Qhorha and Ngxakaxa Village Road Upgrade & Use of 4 Borrow Pits study site, N2 – between Komga and Mthatha, Eastern Cape ......................................................................................................................................