Comprehensive and Professional Solutions for all Heritage Related Matters CK 2006/014630/23 VAT NO.: 4360226270 A REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF LATE IRON AGE STONE WALLED FEATURES IMPACTED ON BY THE ESKOM STEELPOORT-TUBATSE-MARBLEHALL POWERLINE: T15 & T17 PYLON POSITIONS. LOCATED ON PORTION 1 OF THE FARM STEYNSDRIFT 145JS, NEAR TIEGERSHOEK, MPUMALANGA For: Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd P.O.Box 148 SUNNINGHILL 2157 REPORT: APAC015/06 A.J. Pelser Professional Member of ASAPA Field Work conducted: December 2014 & February 2015 Report: February 2015 P.O.BOX 73703 LYNNWOOD RIDGE 0040 Tel: 083 459 3091 Fax: 086 695 7247 Email: [email protected] Member: AJ Pelser BA (UNISA), BA (Hons) (Archaeology), MA (Archaeology) [WITS] 1 ©Copyright APELSER ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTING The information contained in this report is the sole intellectual property of APELSER ARCHAEOLOGICAL CONSULTING. It may only be used for the purposes it was commissioned for by the client. I HEREBY DECLARE THAT I AM AN INDEPENDENT SPECIALIST APPOINTED BY THE CLIENT ON A CONSULTANCY BASIS 2 SUMMARY APelser Archaeological Consulting was appointed by Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd, on behalf of ESKOM, to undertake the Phase 2 Archaeological Mitigation Late Iron Age (LIA) stone walled sites that will be impacted by the development of ESKOM’s Steelpoort-Marble Hall Powerline. The sites were identified by Van Schalkwyk in 2012, and reported on in an amended report in January 2013. Two Pylon locations (T15 & T17) are situated on features (circular enclosures) associated with larger LIA settlements in the area, and will therefore only impact on relatively small footprints in both cases. The archaeological work for both T15 & T17 comprised mainly mapping of the features directly impacted by the Pylon footprints, as well as some of the other stone walled features situated in the area. Archaeological excavations were not conducted, with very little cultural material deposit present, although some material was recovered from the general surface of the area. Previous excavations in the larger area (for the Tubatse Switching Station) by the same author on similar and related sites were used to interpret the archaeology of the T15/T17 sites and features impacted. This report discusses the results of the fieldwork, and provides recommendations on the way forward in terms of the destruction of the sites for development purposes. It is believed that the work was done successfully and that the erection of the two Pylons can now proceed once the Destruction Permit has been issued by SAHRA. 3 CONTENTS SUMMARY ........................................................................................... 3 CONTENTS .......................................................................................... 4 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................... 5 AIMS ................................................................................................ 5 METHODOLOGY.................................................................................... 6 ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND .......................................................... 6 ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS .................................................... 14 1. MAPPING ................................................................................. 14 2. EXCAVATIONS .......................................................................... 20 3. RESULTS ................................................................................. 22 4. DISCUSSION OF CULTURAL MATERIAL ........................................ 27 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ............................................. 34 REFERENCES ..................................................................................... 36 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ........................................................................ 36 4 A REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF LATE IRON AGE STONE WALLED FEATURES IMPACTED ON BY THE ESKOM STEELPOORT-TUBATSE-MARBLEHALL POWERLINE: T15 & T17 PYLON POSITIONS. LOCATED ON PORTION 1 OF THE FARM STEYNSDRIFT 145JS, NEAR TIEGERSHOEK, MPUMALANGA INTRODUCTION APelser Archaeological Consulting was appointed by Savannah Environmental (Pty) Ltd, on behalf of ESKOM, to undertake the Phase 2 Archaeological Mitigation Late Iron Age (LIA) stone walled sites that will be impacted by the development of ESKOM’s Steelpoort-Marble Hall Powerline. The sites were identified by Van Schalkwyk in 2012, and reported on in an amended report in January 2013. Two Pylon locations (T15 & T17) are situated on features (circular enclosures) associated with larger LIA settlements in the area, and will therefore only impact on relatively small footprints in both cases. The archaeological work for both T15 & T17 comprised mainly mapping of the features directly impacted by the Pylon footprints, as well as some of the other stone walled features situated in the area. Archaeological excavations were not conducted, with very little cultural material deposit present, although some material was recovered from the general surface of the area. Previous excavations in the larger area (for the Tubatse Switching Station) by the same author on similar and related sites were used to interpret the archaeology of the T15/T17 sites and features impacted. A SAHRA permit (No.1274) was issued for the work. Fieldwork was conducted during two sessions in late October 2014 and early February 2015. Dense grass cover made visibility difficult, but it is believed that the mapping and interpretation of the stone walled features was done successfully. AIMS The aims of the Archaeological Investigation were the following: (a) to determine the type of settlement, possible time-frame of occupation and material culture (b) to map the sites and features on it in detail to help with determining settlement layout and extent (c) the analysis of any possible cultural material recovered from the sites (d) the drafting of a detailed report on all the findings and recommendations on the way forward and finally, (e) obtaining permission for the demolition of the site features situated at the T15/T17 Pylon positions METHODOLOGY The methodology comprised the following: Background Research – This included background research on the area and its archaeology. 5 Photographic - Photographs of the sites and area were taken, while all identifiable features and individual objects were also photographed for recording purposes. Mapping All identifiable features were recorded and a map produced. Archaeological Excavations No excavations were conducted, as there was no discernible deposit on the sites and at the specific features to be impacted by the T17/T17 Pylon positions. Also, previous detailed excavations in the area, on similar sites and features related to and dating to the same time-period, have provided ample material and evidence for the proper interpretation of these sites and features. ARCHAEOLOGICAL BACKGROUND The larger study area (for the Steelpoort-Marble Hall 400kV Power line and Steelpoort Integration projects) involves two sections of power line corridors, most of which follows existing corridors. The longest power line runs eastwards from south of Marblehall, across the Nebo plateau, across the Lulu Mountains and down into the Steelpoort River valley, where the development of a substation is proposed. The second line runs from this substation in a north-westerly direction to the farm Syferfontein 136JS, where a new substation will be constructed. To be expected with such a large study area, the environment changes drastically from west to east. The west forms part of a Highveld area typified by an undulating landscape. Going down the escarpment to the middle veld, the area is typified by mountains. In contrast, the eastern section is marked by mountains and hills, creating a broken type of environment (Van Schalkwyk, 2013:2). The two Eskom electric Pylons (T15 & T17), is located on Portion 1 of the farm Steynsdrift 145JS, and is situated in the Steelpoort Valley around 40km west of Steelpoort. The topography of the site is relatively flat, although very rocky, and is surrounded by mountain ranges (Lulu Mountain). Dense tree cover and grass makes identifying sites and features difficult, although during one of the fieldwork sessions conducted in October 2014 the veld had burnt recently and individual features and sites were fairly visible. The sites are located at approximately S25 06 29.48 E29 50 30.66 (T15) & S25 06 09.11 E29 50 37.61 (T17). 6 Figure 1: Google image of study area location (Google Earth 2013). Figure 2: Closer aerial view of site location. Note the dense tree cover. Google Earth 2014. 7 Figure 3: Topographic location of sites T15-17. Note the power line corridors. (From Van Schalkwyk 2013:p.9). The T15 site consists of stone walling which possibly originally formed part of a homestead with a cattle kraal. Van Schalkwyk estimated in 2012 that is was approximately 80 x 50 meters in size. T17 consists of a strategically located stone walled site on a ridge overlooking the Steelpoort River, and consists of a large cattle kraal and possible smaller stone circles on the periphery. The site was estimated to be 150 x 80 meters in size. 8 Figure 4: View of general area taken during October 2014. 9 Figure 5: View of circular enclosure at the T15 Pylon location. Taken in October 2014. 10 Figure 6: View of the same feature taken in February 2015. 11 Figure 7: A second enclosure identified close to T15. Figure