- Home
- A-Z Publications
- Southern African Field Archaeology
Southern African Field Archaeology

Publisher | Albany Museum |
---|---|
Frequency | Monthly |
Coverage | 1992 - 1998 |
Language | English |
Journal Status | Not Active |
Collection(s) |
-
-
A brief report on the rescue excavation of a human skeleton from Nooitgedacht, Northern Cape Province, South Africa."
The excavation of a single burial of an older male from the farm Nooitgedacht is described. The preservation of the skeleton is extremely poor, but the context of the grave and the associated ostrich eggshell beads are consistent with other isolated graves of the late prehistoric and early historic populations of the region."
-
-
-
The faunal remains from four Late Iron Age sites in the Soutpansberg region: Part III: Tshirululuni.
The faunal remains from four Late Iron Age sites in the Soutpansberg area are described in three parts according to the settlement patterns ascribed to them by Loubser (1988). Part III describes the faunal remains from Tshirululuni, a Mutzheto Pattern settlement, which was an important centre of the Western Singo after the collapse of the Singo state in the 18th century. Cattle remains predominate in the samples while sheep/goat numbers are low. The upper unit of Trench 1 contains a high number of juvenile cattle remains; reminiscent of the Great Zimbabwe Hill Midden. The majority were apparently deposited in one of two pits located in this trench. The unit also contains a gross over-representation of juvenile and adult cattle metapodia. The distribution of ages, taphonomy, butchering evidence and pathologies are also described. Skeletal element representations are then considered on an intra-site level in terms of human patterns of refuse disposal."
-
-
-
Two seventeenth century coffin burials at the Cape.
Two skeletons excavated in 1966 during the construction of the Cape Town Post Office Tunnel were reĀ analysed and described here. Although the specimens were highly fragmentary and in poor condition, it was determined that the two individuals were in their late teens and probably male. By historical inference, the time of death was narrowed down to the period between 1652-1677, but most likely occurring within the year 1652."
-
-
-
Burial from the seventeenth century Dutch Fort De Goede Hoop at the Cape.
Excavations in 1991 on the Grand Parade in Cape Town yielded a complete articulated skeleton buried in an extended position on its back. There was no evidence of a coffin. The burial was found in the vicinity of the sick-comforter's room inside Fort de Goede Hoop which was located on the Parade site. From anatomical analysis the individual was identified as male, of European extraction, in his late forties or early fifties. A large pathological disorder of the distal femur is present on the left leg. A date of burial between 1652-1677 is considered."
-
-
-
Radiocarbon chronology of Later Stone Age decorations in the upper Seacow River valley .
Fibre temper is a prominent trait of ceramics traditionally ascribed to the Bushmen of central South Africa. Fibres from thirty decorated vessels found on surface sites in the upper Seacow River valley (Richmond and Middelburg districts) were extracted and radiocarbon dated. Rocker stamp designs, although present here by -950 BP, were more frequently used between -600-400 BP. Thereafter, other stamp-impressed motifs were preferred. One of these appears to be restricted to a very brief,period ( -300 200 BP) just before the European arrival, after which rocker stamping reappeared and became the only motif used in the historical period. Calibration of these dates reveal ambiguous gaps inthe record. The previously proposed four phase sequence of decorations, based on stratified. sherds from shallow rock shelter fills, is extensively revised and reduced to three phases"
-
-
-
Archaeological investigation of a nineteenth century water furrow in Church Street, Central Pretoria."
Originally Pretoria was supplied with water by a system of furrows. An archaeological investigation was conducted of a section of one of these furrows, found in the course of construction work in Church Street, Pretoria. The investigation aimed to provide the Pretoria City Council with recommendations for the conservation and possible use of the furrow. Two sections of the furrow were examined in order to obtain more information on the building material and techniques used in its construction. From the investigation it was deduced that the furrow was primarily in use prior to 1910, to supply water to the eastern parts of the city. It is suggested that more detailed research should be carried out in order to understand the furrow system as a whole in an effort to anticipate similar problems and solutions in future development projects."
-

© Publisher: Albany Museum