the richtersveld cultural and botanical landscape - SAHRA

Richtersveld Cultural and Botanical Landscape World Heritage Site Nomination 54
The |haru oms is a dome shaped structure, sometimes with the highest point over
the main door rather than in the centre. The frame is constructed of light, bent
staves the ends of which are placed in shallow holes. Two sets of staves are used
one running at a 90 o angle to the other (See diagram above). The staves are bound
to one another to provide structural rigidity and are then covered with mats. Huts
come in a variety of sizes up to around 4m in diameter with the size traditionally
determined by the number of mats required for a single cover over the frame rather
than by any estimate of physical dimension. In the Richtersveld and other areas
where huts are still manufactured, the traditional mat covering is made from one of
three species of rush that grow locally, with coarser, more durable rushes often
being used only on the lower part of the structure where wear-and-tear is greatest.
(Historically there is evidence that in areas further to the south at certain seasons of
the year hides were also used to cover huts providing better shelter in areas where
there was high rainfall and strong winds.) Traditionally the door is a fairly low
opening that is covered by a mat that can be rolled up and secured above it. In the
warmer seasons a second door is often created on the opposite side of the
structure.
The preparation of the rushes and mats of a |haru oms