the digging stick - South African Heritage Resource Agency

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Volume 9, No. 2

THE DIGGING STICK ISSN 101-7521

August 1992

Left: Pitted and grooved rocks at Quested's Dam (top and middle) and a circular grinding hollow at Seven Mile Kopjes (bottom) (C.K. Cooke, 1964). Right: A grindstone from level 11 at Pomongwe (C.K. Cooke, 1963). See page 7 for Mr Cooke's last article on grindstones for further details, South African Archaeological Society

PEERS CAVE, 'THE CAVE THE WORLD FORGOT' JANETTE DEACON & MIKE WILSON In a cynical moment one could describe Peers Cave as 'The Cave

ters in the area. In May 1927, encouraged by John Goodwin, who

ings, which are in the South African Museum, include patterns of dots

the World Forgot', for it is one of

was lecturer in Ethnology and Ar-

and lines in browns and yellows and

those archaeological sites that were

chaeology at the University of Cape

what appear to be superposed

investigated too early to have had

Town, they began excavations in

handprints.

the benefit of the

FIRST EXCAVATIONS

sophisticated

Skildergat Cave. In a preliminary re-

techniques now in use and, since

port on the site published in 1929,

In another, unpublished, prelim-

almost all of the deposit has been

Goodwin said he had dug a trench

inary report of 1929, Goodwin said

removed, it is too late for the site to

from the front to the back of the

of the Peers that 'Their first real at-

fulfil the promise it once showed.

cave in 1925 but 'further work

tempt at excavation was in the

On the cover of the booklet on

proved inconvenient and it was

Skildergat cave. This cave proved

Peers Cave issued by the Fish

abandoned, only the upper midden

an immense task, and in order to

Hoek Municipality in 1941, Sir

refuse of Wilton type having been

improve their technique they began

Arthur Keith, a noted British an-

disturbed'. Goodwin also com-

work in a few minor shelters in the

atomist, is reported to have said in

mented 'It is of interest here to note

same valley'. Since both the Peers

1929 'It will be a long while before

that van Riebeek [sic] in his journal

had jobs, work was restricted to

so perfect a discovery as that made

mentions that this valley was inhab-

weekends, public holidays and their

by the Peers is repeated'. At the

ited during his governorship, and in

week of annual leave. Excavation of

meeting of the South

fact seems to have been the home,

Skildergat Cave was not an easy job

African Association for the Ad-

or at least the refuge, of Herry or

and reports say that spades, picks

vancement of Science in 1932 Field

Harry, his amusingly dishonest in-

and even dynamite were used to

Marshal Smuts declared that 'The

terpreter' .

dislodge the large blocks of roof-

exploration of this Cave is not yet

WHY SKILDERGAT?

rock that littered the cave deposits

Durban

complete, but already it promises to

Bertie Peers, in his unpublished

(marks of the explosions are still to

be the most remarkable cave site

report of 1929, said that the name

be seen). The finds created such in-

yet found in South Africa'.

Schilder Kop supposedly derived

terest, both locally and abroad, that

What was so remarkable about

from a farm-hand called Schilder

a newspaper report records that

Peers Cave sixty and more years

who sought refuge in the cave with

when visiting archaeologists attend-

ago, and why were the prophecies

a few cattle some time in the mid-

ing the 1929 joint meeting of the

not fulfilled? Part of the answer can

nineteenth century. Others have

British and South African Associa-

be found in the history of the inves-

assumed that it relates to the rock

tions for the Advancement of Sci-

paintings (Afrikaans skilderye) on

ence arrived in Cape Town, they

Victor Stanley Peers was born in

the cave walls, a few faded rem-

'went direct from the mail steamer to

New South Wales in 1874 and came

nants of which are still visible. These

the cave before going anywhere

to South Africa in 1899 during the

are the only rock paintings within a

else'.

Anglo-Boer War. He later joined the

100-km radius of the Cape Penin-

SKELETONS

South African Railways, where he

sula. Curiously, Goodwin, in the

worked for 30 years. His son, Bertie, .

above-mentioned report, said '...

recent sterile

was born in 1903 and while the fam-

this cave shows no signs whatso-

150 mm deep, the Peers found a

ily lived in Fish Hoek father and son,

ever of cave-painting having been

substantial shell midden up to

keen amateur naturalists, archaeol-

practised'. Perhaps he was unable

1.5 m thick, probably dating to be-

ogists and palaeontologists, be-

to see them for the numerous graf-

tween 300 and a few thousand

came interested in the exploration

fiti that cover parts of the cave walls.

years old. The remains of six peo-

of the various caves and rock shel-

Bertie Peers's copies of the paint-

pie, two nearly complete female

tigation of the site.

The Digging Stick 9(2)

2

In the uppermost levels, below a layer of ab 0 u t

ISSN 1013-7521

skeletons and four children, were

layered between two Still Bay levels

type artefacts lay below the Wilton

found buried in this layer, tucked

and skeleton no. 4 had apparently

shell midden, not between two lay-

into cavities in the rear wall. Prof.

been buried into the Howieson's

ers of the Still Bay.

J.H. Keen of the University of Cape Town's Medical School analyzed

Poort layer from the overlying Still Bay. This individual, identified by Sir

In 1963 an American doctoral student, Barbara Anthony, carried

those of the most complete individual and estimated that the woman

Arthur Keith as a male about 30 years old and 1.57 m tall, immedi-

out further excavations in Peers Cave. One of the initial problems

. had been about 1.53 m tall and

ately became a local celebrity famil-

she experienced was discovering

iarly known as 'Fish Hoek Man'. His

that some of her excavations were

could better be described

as

'Hottentot' than as 'Bushman'.

fame was dependent on his having

in earlier spoil-heaps! However, she

Amongst the goods associ ated

been associated with the MSA

found undisturbed deposits in the

with these burials were ostrich

rather than the LSA, and even now

centre of the cave, between the

eggshell beads, marine shell pen-

remains from the MSA are extremely

Peers's and Jolly's trenches, at a

dants and a fragment of rusted iron,

fragmentary. Doubts were, how-

said to have been a spearhead and

ever, expressed as to the skele-

depth of about 1.35 m below the original surface and excavated two

therefore dating to within the time of European contact with the Cape.

ton's contemporaneity with the faunal remains from the MSA, which

The remains of small leather bags

were very poorly preserved.

although she wrote a fairly compre-

possibly containing 'curative herbs'

'STELLENBOSCH

hensive report for the National

CULTURE'

trenches there. Her work was also never completed or fully published,

were found strung around the waist

In 1929 the Peers stopped their

of one of the women, who had ap-

excavation at a depth of about 3 m,

parently been lame. Finds also in-

but they then put a trench into the

As a result of Barbara Anthony's

cluded fragments of woven reed

talus deposits close to the mouth of

work there was renewed interest in

and rope, bone awls and arrow-

the cave where they reached an es-

the site and an attempt was made to

points and bored stones.

Monuments Council. DATING

timate of over 6 m. They recovered

date the MSA deposits and 'Fish

both

from this trench a few stone arte-

Hoek Man'. Charcoal yielded dates

poorly preserved, were found in Still

facts reminiscent of what what was

of greater than 35 600 B. P. from a

Bay (Middle Stone Age) deposits

then called the 'Stellenbosch Cul-

depth of about 0.5 m in her Trench

Two more

skeletons,

below the shell midden and be-

ture' of the Earlier Stone Age. This

neath a rockfall, but appeared to

was an important finding, since at

" and 36000 ± 2400 B.P. from about 1.0 m (it must be borne in

have been buried from the midden

that time the only other cave in the

mind that these depths were from

levels, so that Prof. Philip Rightmire

country that had yielded the full se-

the surface left after the Peers's ex-

of the State University of New York

quence from Earlier through Middle

cavations). Later, Rainer Protsch

at Binghampton later listed all eight

to Later Stone Age was one outside

obtained a date of 35 000 B. P.

as coming from the midden layer. A

Montagu,

from a piece of Equus bone said to

ninth skeleton (labelled no. 4),

north-east.

have come from the same level as

which created a great deal more in-

NEW

'Fish Hoek Man'. However, bone

some 160 km to the

EXCAVATIONS

terest at the time, was recovered

Almost twenty years after the

from the postcranial skeleton of this

from the deposit (layer 3) below the

Peers's excavations, Keith Jolly, an

individual is reported to have been

Still Bay layer, but a tenth, appar-

archaeology graduate of the Uni-

dated to about 12 000 B. P., thus

ently also associated with MSA ma-

versity of Cape Town, undertook

placing it well within the Later Stone

terial in layer 5, was 'totally per-

further work in the cave in 1946-7.

Age and showing the great antiquity

ished'. However, Bertie Peers's plans of the excavation show only

He had to spend the first fortnight removing recent in-filling and rock-

earlier claimed for it to have been incorrect. PROBLEMS

nine burials, that of no. 6 being the

fall to expose the sections of the

lowest.

Peers's excavations but he, too,

The problem with the Peers's

FISH HOEK MAN

was unable to finish the work satis-

and Jolly's excavations is that, in

The MSA horizon was said to

factorily. In Jolly's opinion, the de-

contain Howieson's Poort artefacts

posit containing Howieson's Poort

keeping with the practice of the times, only what were considered to


3

ISSN 1013-7521

be representative samples of the

suited from horizontal variability

of Peers Cave after all? If so, what

artefacts were retained,

within the deposits, as well as from

would be commemorated? Would it

differences in terminology.

be the heritage (now largely van-

which

makes it almost impossible to anaIyze the material in terms of today's

Volman also found little to distin-

more stringent criteria. The Peers's

guish the samples from the levels in

who lived there for so many thou-

artefact collections were bequeathed to the South African Mu-

Anthony's excavations from one another, but considered that the

sands of years; would it be the zeal of Victor and Bertie Peers and their

ished) of the Stone Age people

seum and an inventory of these was

artefacts from the lower levels pos-

successors; or would it simply be

made in 1943 by H.S. Jager, a keen

sibly had more in common with

the setting and ambience of the

amateur archaeologist and for some

those from the Peers's talus trench

large and airy rock shelter?

years mayor of Fish Hoek, and Or

than with those from their Still Bay

We believe that the most inter-

E. E. Mossop, a medical doctor best known for his publications on early

layer 3. His conclusion was that if

est lies in the fact that people lived

this was in fact the case, something

in Peers Cave for possibly 200 000

expeditions into the interior.

that could only be verified by further

years; but other factors give it

excavation, then it might be possi-

added value. To exploit these val-

It was here that the full tragedy of Peers Cave came to light. Not only

ble to demonstrate that the lowest

ues sensibly, it is necessary to do

were there very few artefacts rela-

strata at Peers Cave might provide

the following:

tive to the vast amount of deposit

information on what constitutes a

1. clean off the graffiti, including

excavated (over a third of the con-

transitional industry between th e

the unsightly notices painted on

tents of the cave), but in many

Earlier and Middle Stone Ages.

the walls by the Historical Monu-

cases their origin could not be at-

Bertie Peers died in 1939 from a

tributed with certainty, some having

snake-bite and his father died the

2. inspire an organization like the

come from the other five sites exca-

following year. Since the 1940s, at

Simon's Town Museum or the

ments Commission;

vated by the Peers as well as from

the initiative of Mr Jager, attempts

Fish Hoek Municipality to take re-

surface collections. A small part of

have been made to have Peers

sponsibility for the management

the material from Jolly's excavation

Cave proclaimed a National Monu-

of the site;

is also housed in the Museum.

ment. This was not done, chiefly

3. devise educational material such

There are probably more artefacts in

because all archaeological sites are

as displays and leaflets that will

the debris in the talus slope below

protected by the National Monu-

inform visitors about the heritage

the cave than on the Museum's col-

ments Act and are thus de facto na-

of the site and its surrounds; and

lections, but since the former are no

tional monuments.

longer in context they have at best

In 1989 the National Monuments Council's Western Cape Regional

only curiosity value.

4. record the mistakes of the past so as to learn from them for the benefit of the site in the future.

By contrast, Barbara Anthony re-

Committee discussed the matter

FURTHER READING

covered some 45 000 artefacts

and concluded that, as the scientific

Anthony, B. 1967. Excavations at

from her second trench, which was

value of the site had dwindled, it

Peers Cave, Fish Hoek, South

about 10 square metres in area and

would be worthwhile proclaiming it

Africa. Palaeoecology of Africa

a maximum of 1.8 m deep.

only if it were endangered or could

2:58-59.

Prof. Tom Volman of Cornell Uni-

be used as a public educational fa-

versity, then a Ph. D. candidate at

cility. In the latter case, the Fish

Stone Age. In Goodwin, A.J.H. &

the University of Chicago, studied

Hoek Municipality would have to

Van Riet Lowe, C. The Stone

the artefacts from the three sets of

undertake the long-term mainte-

Age Cultures of South Africa:95-

excavations. He concluded that a

nance and management of the site.

145. Annals of the South African

reliable culture-stratigraphic se-

WHAT OF THE FUTURE?

Goodwin, A.J.H. 1929. The Middle

Museum 27.

quence for the upper levels could

Is this the end of the story of

Greenland, C. 1978. The story of

not be established from the reports

'The Cave the World Forgot'? Have

Peers' Cave. Fish Hoek: Cedryl

by the Peers and Jolly because of

the graffiti artists had the last word,

Greenland.

discrepancies

these,

or do the citizens of Fish Hoek be-

Jager, H.S. 1941. Guide to the

which he considered might have re-

lieve that something could be made

Peers Cave (Skildergat), the

between


4

ISSN 1013-7521

home of ancient man at Fish

South African Archaeological

Hoek. Fish Hoek Municipality. Jolly, K. 1948. The development of

Bulletin 3: 106-7. Tobias, P. V. 1970. Skildergat.

the Cape Middle Stone Age in the Skildegat Cave, Fish Hoek.

Standard Encyclopaedia Southern Africa 9:652.

f

0

J. Deacon, National Monuments Council, P.O. Box 4637, Cape Town, 8000; M.L. Wilson, South African Museum, P.O. Box 61, Cape Town, 8000.

* * * * *

LITTLE LEIGH ROCKSHEL TER N. HAHN (with assistance from S. MILLER) suiting in selective erosion of the

walls and roof are generally smooth,

call Little Leigh Site A: Bushman

deposit.

and run from the floor to the apex in

Cave for the past 20 years but it was

THE SITE

I have known about the site we

a continuous curve. Several stem-

not until October last year that I real-

The site is situated on the farm

fruit trees (Bequaertiodendron ma-

ized the full importance of the site.

Little Leigh which lies at an average

galiesmontanum) grow in front of

At that time two members of the

altitude of 1120 m. The shelter is

the cave, screening it from casual

Soutpansberg Rock Art Conserva-

approximately 12 m wide, 10 m

inspection. Owing to the fact that

tion Group and I went to look at the

deep and 6 m high, and is situated

the site faces south, cool tempera-

site for the purpose of documenting

approximately 110 m above the

tures can be expected in summer

paintings in the shelter. It turned out

valley floor, close to the top of the

while in winter sun will be able to

that it was not only the rock art that

south-facing

mountainside

f

penetrate well into the shelter. A

was of interest but also the artefacts

quartzite and sandstone of the

last special attribute of the cave is its

0

that we found on the surface.

sound quality; sounds are

Stone tools of all ages lay

easily projected up and

side by side with Iron Age

down the valley below,

potsherds. Possibly the most

sometimes in echo effects

important ceramics find was a

that could have

well-preserved sherd relating

utilized for various pur-

in style to the material from

poses.

Klein Afrika. This find was surprising

because

The

site

approximately

the

been

lies 5.5 km

south-west of the Early

people of the Early Iron Age mainly preferred open and

Iron Age site of Klein

level areas on deep fertile

Afrika. The nearest water is

soils for settlement rather

a perennial spring lying

than mountain tops. As no obvious signs of

Fig. 1. Stone artefacts from the surface of the shelter.

100 m east of the shelter, but perennial water can also be found in the valley

human or animal disturbance were present the only apparent

Soutpansberg Group. The floor is

reason for the mixed occurrence of

quite level, with a few convenient

a plateau which was in the past, and

artefacts on the surface seems to

rocks protruding through the sur-

still remains, rich in game. Although

the

rounding archaeological deposit.

access is easy from the north, the

shelter protects from rain an area of 120 m 2 , storm water can enter the

Apart from the sheltered area, the

shelter is well hidden and is difficult

floor continues outward for a few

to find unless one knows the area

shelter from the west, possibly re-

more metres, resulting in a usable

well. From the valley floor to the

floor space of around 160 m2 . The

south the site is protected by

be water action. Although


5

below. To the north of the shelter is

v~ge-

ISSN 1013-7521

dicular mountainside strewn with

METAL

numerous fallen rocks. From the opposite mountainside the shelter

Metal slag (? copper) was found in the back of the shelter, and pieces of ore that appear to be either haematite or magnetite were found at the entrance (Rg. 3). Hae-

is clearly visible. STONE ARTEFACTS There is a range of stone artefacts from the Earlier Stone

GRINDING HOLLOWS In the south-eastern corner, close to the entrance of the cave, the bedrock was used for grinding. Several longitudinal hollows, 200 mm long and 75 mm wide, occur here. The shape of

Age through to the Later Stone Age (Fig. 1). In the

these hollows suggests the grinding of ore, rather than

surface collection, artefacts

organic matter, although

from the earlier periods are

this interpretation is open to

fewer in comparison to those of the later ages. POTTERY The potsherd (Fig. 2),

debate. In the centre and back of the shelter several conical hollows, 80 mm in diameter

mentioned above as similar

and between 25 mm and

to material from neighbour-

60 mm deep, can also be

ing Klein Afrika, was found by Reg Miller and is the

seen on part of the bedrock protruding through the de-

most interesting owing to its

posit. These could have

size and state of preserva-

been used for many pur-

tion. It is approximately Fig. 2. Early Iron Age potsherd with decoration on the 270 mm long and 230 mm outward curving lip, from the entrance of the shelter.

poses, from extractiing metals from ore by dry panning,

wide, with the typical curved

to crushing plant material for medicinal purposes, to pre-

body and neck combination and decoration close to the

paring materials for the pain-

thickened lip. Although it

tings on the walls.

was not found within the overhang of the shelter it

ROCK ART The paintings in the

appears to belong with the

shelter are in a poor state of

same deposit.

preservation but, owing to

One half of a rounded pottery disc with a hole in

the inaccessibility of the site, their deterioration can

the centre (Fig. 3) was

be ascribed to three factors,

found in the middle of the

namely:

cave. It is 65 mm in diameter and 13 mm thick, but

1. some of the paintings were executed in white

without decoration. This is

pigment which seems to

probably part of a spindle

be of inferior quality and

whorl used in weaving. Several other smaller

style; 2. possible advanced age;

Fig. 3. Spindle whorl, potsherds, slag and ore from the

sherds, apparently both surface of the shelter.

or

Middle and Late Iron Age were also found. These are

matite does not occur in the vicinity

3. possible adverse atmospheric conditions which

more difficult to place accurately in

of the site, as far as is known, but

seem to affect rock paintings in

time as several of the decorations are repeated in time, and the size of

could be expected to be found near

the region.

the Limpopo.

Numerous small line and other

the sherds does not allow for proper determination of vessel shape. The Digging Stick 9(2)

drawings are present but they are very indistinct and difficult to rec6

ISSN 1013-7521

ognize. One of the better pre-

The use of the shelter for cere-

shedding light on the history of the

served images is a strange drawing of a human figure, painted with lines of red entoptic dots. The style of these drawings is the same as that

monial purposes can also not be excluded. The Early Iron Age sherds possibly point to the site's being used for such purposes since

Soutpansberg. I thank Dr Janette Deacon for making helpful suggestions on this paper.

which one would normally associate with San art. An elephant and eland,

it is unlikely that people who settled in large communities and practised

FURTHER READING Laubser, J.H.N. (1988). Archaeo-

both painted in white pigment, are most probably of a different, possi-

agriculture would have lived in such a small shelter.

logical contribution to Venda

bly Negroid, origin.

It would be interesting to assess

CONCLUSION

the possibility that the cave was

This site was obviously used over a long period by a variety of groups. The evidence in the shelter shows trance-related activities

used by both the San and their Iron Age neighbours as it is generally

(paintings), possible metal working

tury. The fact that ore appears to have been prepared in the shelter

(ore and grinding hollows) and

known that the San existed in the area well into the nineteenth cen-

weaving (spindle whorl), as well as the preparation of plants for un-

would suggest that both groups

known reasons (grinding hollows).

the San only used iron artefacts that

prehistory. Unpublished Ph. D.

thesis: University of the Witwatersrand. Phillipson, D.W. (1977). The later prehistory of eastern and southern Africa. London: Heinemann. P.O.Box 1734, Louis Trichardt, 0920.

* * * * *

were there at times, if it is true that

As the site is too small to support

they obtained from Iron Age people

Anyone interested in receiving or contributing to Die Roo; Olifant,

more than a few people at anyone time, we conclude that it was either

rather than making their own. However, the site has not been

newsletter of the Soutpansberg Rock Art Preservation G ro up,

used by smaller groups of people (such as the nomadic San) for

excavated yet and it is to be ex-

should contact the Editor, Mr E. B.

pected that many questions will only

Eastwood, P.D.Box 168, Louis

longer periods or by larger groups (such as Later Iron Age people hid-

be answered when this has happened. My intention was just to

Trichardt, 0920: phone 01551-

ing from raids by other groups) for

bring this shelter to the attention of

very short periods of duress.

anyone who may be interested in

984~

(h) or 01551-2212 (w).

* * * * *

GRINDSTONES C.K. COOKE* Very little literature is available on

position occurs in South Africa, de-

common form appears to be con-

the lower grindstone or quern in its

spite legislation which requires a

fined to a particular area, except in

various forms, authors giving only

permit before one may collect ar-

one instance which is described

casual mention of its existence. These stones occur throughout

chaeological material. However, some grindstones occur in situ and may still be examined and a few from

later. The variation shown in size may

southern Africa and as far north as Egypt. The upper grindstone is also

archaeological deposits are in mu-

well illustrate individual preferences or use for specific purposes. But, with the mechanical grinding mill

In Zimbabwe there are many

seum collections. The portable quern is common

hundreds of querns being used in gardens as birdbaths, the original

but grinding areas also occur on flat granite outcrops in Zimbabwe.

motest areas, it is now difficult to ascertain reasons for variation, the

localities long forgotten. A similar

Shapes vary considerably but a

types of material ground and the

rarely given a detailed description.


7

becoming available even in the re-

ISSN 1013-7521

exact method used to obtain the

heavy gold particles while the waste

rather than the back and forth

desired product. ORE EXTRACTION The occurrence of grooves and dolly holes at Selukwe suggests the

continued into the central hole. The principle would be not unlike that of the James table but without the shaking. These grindstones were

method used for maize. However, long, narrow examples also occur at this site.

grinding of ores, possibly gold. The artefacts occur close to a running

on a local outcrop of granite. FOOD PREPARATION

stream below the Bonsor Ruins in a mining area.

Almost circular grinding areas occur at Lake Kyle in Zimbabwe,

vium which has been under intensive occupation and cultivation, possibly from before the introduction of maize. The circular grind-

The combination of grooves and

Glenesk Farm in the northern

stones were possibly used for

a dolly hole (Fig. 1) at Morven Mine

Transvaal, in Lesotho and the

crushing and grinding the hard

near Bulawayo is of particular interest. The grinding area on natural

foothills of the Natal Drakensberg. The Kyle occurrence is on the site

seeds of millet (Pennisitum caffrorum). Another possibility is that

rock had shallow grooves over the whole area with a central dolly hole.

of a settlement of labourers brought from Lesotho to Maswingo (Fort Vic-

sherds were crushed for grog. Unfortunately, if there was any stratifi-

Small flecks of gold and iron were extracted from the grooves. The

toria) by the Pioneer Column during

cation showing difference in age between the two types, this has

mine is situated on a banded ironstone occurrence which shows vis-

within the national park and no

ible gold in the quartz bands. This

Those in the Drakensberg foothills are not far from the bound-

WEAPON

ary of modern Lesotho. A circular example in the museum at Marianhill

sary for sharpening weapons of war.

deposit was mined prior to the advent of Europeans. The exact use of the grind• stones from the Morven Mine (Fig.

1890. The site is on bare rocks longer occupied.

came from Lesotho.

Glenesk has a large area of allu-

long since been destroyed by the plough. SHARPENING

Grindstones were also necesOn Quested's Farm in the PI~mtree area of Ziml;>abwe there are many

1) is not clear. The central dolly hole

The occurrence at Glenesk Farm

ground areas on upright granite

could be used for the preliminary

is unlikely to have any tribal connec-

boulders. I was told by Chief Gambo

~17f1/////1/ !

.

section

II that the Anandabele impis sharpened their assegais on these rocks prior to engaging Goold Adams's column at Singwesi in November 1893. A flat rock adjacent to the entrance of the Cross Ruin at Kame (Khami) has similar

/

ground areas probably used by those guarding this access. OTHERS

Stone mortars are not uncommon in the mining areas of Zimbabwe but they

/

also occur in places where no economic minerals occur or Fig. 1. Grooved grindstone with dolly hole. Morven Mine, Zimbabwe.

crushing of ore. The resulting pow-

tion with Lesotho. It is more likely

der may have been washed over

that a specific grain was ground

the grooves which would catch the

which needed circular grinding


8

were known to have been exploited prior to 1890. The only known transportable example is in the Natural History Museum in Bulawayo (Fig 2). Fixed examples occur at Mwala Hill, ISSN 1013-7521

Nyamandhlovu District and at Plum-

except in the areas

described

There is no evidence for the

tree, well away from the gold belt.

above. Glenesk Farm has both

saddle quern, as in Egypt, although a sitting or kneeling position must have been used. Some years ago in the Bikita District of Zimbabwe I saw women standing up using a quern mounted on a platform made of saplings. The upper grindstone was an oblong piece of diorite. Maize was being ground, after it had been stamped in a wooden mortar. The standing position appears to be a modern innovation connected with the adoption of fashionable store-bought clothing. UPPER GRINDSTONES I examined or located very few examples of upper grindstones but those that I did find were oblong pieces of diorite with one or more facets polished by the grinding. Pieces of diorite between 180 and 200 mm long, for use 'with the

Fig. 2. Diagrammatic cross-section through hole for a moveable dolly. From Matabeleland, Zimbabwe. Measurements in mm.

types but, because of the move-

These may well have been used for crushing millet and marula or other hard nuts. Examples of grindstones recovered from Late Stone Age

ment of many of these artefacts to gardens, it is impossible to give any estimate of numbers or proportions.

deposits have no consistent shape. One from Pomongwe Cave has a

The long oval type of grindstone also occurs on granite outcrops. At

circular area on one side and an oblong one on the other. It could

Nyahokwe in the Myanga District of Zimbabwe there are over 100 ex-

have been used for preparing grass

amples on one flat area. This site is

seeds, or ochre and haematite for

adjacent to Iron Age settlements,

painting or body decoration. Sandstone blocks used for shaping bone, ivory, wooden artefacts or ostrich eggshell beads have

ruins and terraced agricultural land. aUERNS IN' USE The earliest record known to me of a quern in use appears as a painting in Silozwane Cave in the Matopo Hills (Fig. 3). It is possibly about 2000 years old, but definitely postdates the arrival of the Bantu in

not been included because they have been described in many papers on the Stone Age. LONG TYPES The longer than wide type occurs throughout the area covered, The Digging Stick 9(2)

dolly holes and rounded at one or both ends from use, were fairly common at the sites of ancient workings.

Zimbabwe.

Fig. 3.

Rock

painting

from

Silozwane Cave, Matopos, Zimbabwe. Approximately 1/10th natural size.

9

ISSN 1013-7521

This paper is the result of many years of observation and the main-

uments of Zimbabwe, all alas departed to situations new. FURTHER READING

Southern Rhodesia. South African Archaeological Bulletin 19: 70.

tenance of comprehensive notes on a subject in which I have had only

Cooke, C.K. 1959. The rock art of Matabeleland. In Summers, R.

Guy, G.L. 1965. Grooves and stone mortars - Selukwe, Rhodesia.

minimal interest owing to my involvement with other aspects of ar-

ed.: Prehistoric rock art of the Federation of Rhodesia and

Arnoldia Rhodesia 2: 1-4. Summers, R. 1969. Ancient mining

chaeological research. How much is still left to discover is a difficult question to answer; it is certainly a subject which should be investi-

Nyasaland. Salisbury: National

in Rhodesia and adjacent areas. National Museums of Rhodesia Museum Memoir 3.

WHERE NOW?

gated further. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Publications Trust. Cooke, C.K. 1963. Report on excavations at Pomongwe and Tshangula Caves, Matopo Hills, Southern

Rhodesia.

Sou th

My thanks are due to Mr Alex Willcox and to members of the staff

African Archaeological Bulletin 18: 73-151.

of the National Museums and Mon-

Cooke, C. K. 1964. Rock gongs and

* Sadly, Mr Cooke, who was one

of our longest-standing members, died recently; we are lucky to have this last contribution by which to remember him - Ed.

grindstones: Plumtree Area,

* * * * *

WESTERN AND SOUTHERN CAPE OUTING TO THE SWARTBERG VAL TAYLOR scenery along the Gamkaskloof

Returning to Swartberg Pass

Cape

road is breath-taking as it winds for

with the mountain peaks covered

Branches of the Society proved so

50 km like a fine strand far into the

overnight with snow, the party made

successful last year that another joint excursion was held at the be-

mountains ahead, zigzagging finally down a series of unbelievable hair-

its rendezvous in Prince Albert at the home of Lydia and Zigi Barrella

ginning of May this year. A full programme provided for a

pin bends to the valley below and to the warm hospitality of Zannie van

to view their unique collection of crystals and gemstones. Helena

wide spectrum of interests, starting with a visit to the Enon Conglomer-

der Wait, the Conservation Officer. That night Kampe Smith brought hi-

Marenkowitz pointed out some of the interesting architectural fea-

ate east of Calitzdorp. This soft red

tech to this isolated valley, using his

tures, such as distinctive gables, of

freshwater alluvial deposit was laid

generator to provide a whole string

the houses in the little town. Many

A combined excursion by the Western

and

Southern

down at the beginning of the Creta-

of electric lights on posts for the

homes have been restored and are

ceous, 120 million years ago. It con-

braai.

fully equipped to provide tourist and

tains Table Mountain Sandstone boulders, Witteberg Quartzite and

Early next morning members examined Bushman paintings nearby.

holiday accommodation at a very reasonable rate. The museum has

fossils of lamellibranchs, freshwater

There were depictions of human

an interesting display of Victorian

mussels (Unio sp.) as well as plants

figures, two or three clear red ochre

furniture, clothes, musical instru-

such as ferns and cycads. We lunched among colourful rounded

elephants and finger dots in lines and clusters. The quick visit re-

ments, medical equipment, etc., as well as fossil material which abounds

red hills splashed with yellow-green

vealed one piece of pottery but no

in the district.

lichen.

other noticeable artefacts. A small

In the afternoon Hennie

The road winds past ostrich

boy in the party created a stir; he

farms in the fertile green valley leading to the Swartberg Pass. The

went to pick up a baby boom slang he thought was dead. It was not!

Plessis and Herman Olivier kindly granted members access to their farms and guided them to several


10

du

ISSN 1013-7521

sites to see Bushman paintings and artefacts. The paintings varied considerably in quality and preserva-

an adjacent room, breaking a little finger in the process! Eina! A doctor in the group improvised a splint with

A final treat was a visit to Roy Oosthiuzen's well-known trilobite collection on the farm Zwartskraal.

tion. They included a number of

lolly sticks and elastoplast.

This is the largest collection of trilo-

human figures, eland, elephants and various other animals as well as shapes. Artefacts included some

On the last morning the convoy snaked its way to the farm of Louis Muller in the Leeugamka district. He

bites in South Africa. Roy has specialized in marine fossils of the Devonian and Lower Devonian, about

MSA tools, as well as a large number of fine-grained microliths li ke cores,

spoke of the recent oil search on his farm and of the fossil animals that

350 million years ago. The well catalogued collection includes an inver-

scrapers, many flakes and a lower grindstone. John Almond introduced members to a distinctive trace fossil,

lived there in the very distant past. Then he lead the group in fourwheel-drive vehicles to the dry stream bed where, on a picnic one

tebrate collection of molluscs, both bivalves and the scarcer gastropods, crinoids, echinoderms, coral, ammonites from the Creta-

Spirophyton, a soft-bodied animal which burrowed vertically down

day, his wife chanced to notice some very large, clear footprints in

ceous and a large Silurian sea-

through the silt to a layer rich in or-

the shale. Gradually they made out

Lower Permian fish from the Witte-

ganic food. The possible proboscis

seven

of

berg. There are also fossil plants

protruded to ingest food material,

Bradysaurus (a slow-moving lizard),

such as ferns, Iycopods and Oa-

producing as it moved, a series of curved side branches from a central furrow about 1 cm in diameter.

a stem-reptile dating back 240 mil-

doxy/on and a general collection of

stone tools and other items. We are grateful to all our hosts

pai rs

of

footprints

Most members slept well but the

lion years and thus antedating the dinosaurs (175 to 75 million years ago) and the mammal-like reptiles.

hard-worked organizer spent a wild

Not far away there was evidence of a

night, running in her nightmare

large fossil animal at least 3 m long

through the dining room to take a

lying just below the surface.

scorpion. Vertebrate fossils include

for their ready generosity and warm hospitality. 44 Sandown Road, Rondebosch, 7700.

nose-dive down a flight of stairs into

* * * * *

IN PRAISE OF A WASH TOWNLEY JOHNSON Reproducing rock paintings for

price, this method is unlikely to be

ground rock surface may be in-

publication is an absorbing under-

favoured. On the other hand, there

cluded as an important feature to

taking. The dot-pattern method is in

appears to be a likelihood that new

enhance the overall result. A quality

my opinion tedious and the least

printing options will present remark-

watercolour paper, preferably a

satisfactory effort. It is an unconvincing attempt to convey how the

rough surface, will ensure the satisfactory image.

original study appears to the viewer in situ.

able cheaper results and merit colour reproductions. The use of watercolour washes employing a wide range, from

A colour copy with the inclusion

opaque black to the lightest shade

thusiastically the labour was induged'

My days of dot-dot-dotting, no matter how industriously and en-

of the rock background is the ideal

of grey, supplies a comprehensive

method. However, unless the con-

scale approximating to the best half-

was calculated to drive me dotty! On one occasion I used

siderable expense merits the pre-

tone photographic copy. Washes

97 483 separate dots to make a

sentation, by virtue of a quality pub-

with Process black or Indian ink are

copy. A colleague interrupted me at

lication with a large membership or

also employed to supply acceptable

this stage of counting by asserting

readership prepared to pay the

results. Additionally, the back-

that my total of dots was suspect.


11

ISSN 1013-7521

"Surely

not

97 483?

Nearer

97 465 maybe?" Re-starting was

or grey portion of the painting add up to an unconvincing image.

considered a wasted exercise with probably further interruptions from a heathen. And so near to a world

To the champions of the dot technique, if my theory does not wash, then my humble appeal for a

record! The result of all this fine-nib

convincing improvement on the half-tone wash method.

NEW PUBLICATION The response to a flyer sent with the South African Archaeological Bulletin last year indicated that many professional archaeologists, as well as several laymen, supported the launch of a new archaeological journal. The Archaeology Department of the Albany Museum therefore proceeded with the publication of Southern African Field Archaeology which was officially presented to the archaeological community at the conference of Southern African Association of Archaeologists in Cape Town in July 1992. The aim of the journal is to com-

B

municate basic data to professional archaeologists and to the public. Manuscripts of original research undertaken in southern Africa will be considered for publication. These include reports of current research projects, site reports, rock art panels, rescue excavations, contract projects, reviews, notes and comments. Students are encouraged to submit short reports on projects and theses for publication. Southern African Field Archaeology will also welcome general information on archaeological topics for publication, such as reports on work-

/

tI

shops and conferences. Southern African Field Archaeology will be published twice a year.

c

Subscription rates are R25 per year for individuals and R40 for institutions in southern Africa. Outside

The original study - photograph (A); Dots (B); Solid (C); and wash (D).

southern Africa the rate is US$25 and US$30 respectively.

black-ink involvement in trying to

Far Horizon, Bosman Avenue, Llan-

convey gradations of tonal value seems to me an exercise in futility,

dudno, 7800.

no matter what my critics say. Black thick dots, medium strength dots, fragile light dots, vignetted lighter dots - the latter to indicate a white


Anyone wishing to subscribe to this new journal should write to: The Editors, Southern African Field Ar-

* * * * *

chaeology , Albany Museum, Som-

Published by the South African Archaeological Society, P.O. Box 15700, Vlaeberg, 8018 South Africa. Editor: Dr Margaret Avery.

erset Street, Grahamstown, 6140 South Africa.

12

* * * * * ISSN 1013-7521