Around 1850, Sarel Marais, one of the early Voortrekkers ... - Eskom

Around 1850, Sarel Marais, one of the early Voortrekkers, and his family settled just above the
Bloubosspruit, in the southern part of the Reserve. He built five elements of what characterized a
typical 1850s farmstead: a farmhouse, a waenhuis or wagonhouse, an orchard, an irrigation furrow
and a cemetery.
The simple rectangular farmhouse had a thatched roof, but a 1943 fire destroyed the roof, and it was
replaced with corrugated iron. Another fire in mid-1980 destroyed most of the farmhouse, and now
only the walls remain. The orchard was established with peach, pear, fig and pomegranate trees, still
visible in 1989 but now gone. The orchard was irrigated from the river by means of a weir and sluice
gates. It is believed that Marais also planted a vineyard but it no longer exists.
The family cemetery still exists, some 500 metres north of the house, now overgrown and vandalised.
Sarel Marais' grave is in the cemetery. He died in 1897, aged 83. Marais' son Jakob took over the
farm when his father died, but since Jakob had no sons (he had 10 daughters from two marriages), he
sold the farm in 1917 to the Quilliam family. They developed the farm, successfully farming dairy, with
10 000 pigs, growing lucerne, barley, and mielies. The City Council bought the farm around 1950,
after most of the Quilliam family had left and grandfather Quilliam had died. His wife remained on the
farm until it became unsafe for her to stay. Since she moved out in the mid-1980s, the farmhouse has
burnt down and been vandalised, and all that remains are the walls.
No objects, sites or features of any cultural (archaeological or historical) heritage significance were
found in the survey area. If any existed these would be have been disturbed or destroyed by past
agricultural activities (ploughing and crop growing) and other developments such as the substations
(Figure 3) and existing powerline and road. Archaeological visibility was also made difficult by dense
vegetation and grass cover (Figure 4).
Figure 3: Dense grass cover made visibility difficult
9

Figure 4: Kookfontein substation
8. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
In conclusion it is possible to say that the assessment of the area was conducted successfully. No
objects, features or sites of cultural (archaeological or historical) significance were located during the
survey. If any did exist past agricultural activities and developments would have disturbed or
destroyed them.
The proposed development will not impact on any heritage resources and therefore no mitigation
measures will have to be implemented to minimize any potential impacts. It is therefore
recommended that the proposed development can continue. However, the subterranean
presence of archaeological or historical objects, features or sites should also always be
considered. If any of these are uncovered during any construction work or other development
activities a professional archaeologist should be called in to investigate.
REFERENCES
1:50 000 Topographical Map location of development: Map provided by client (BAAGI Environmental
Consultancy)
Aerial view of location of development area (Appendix C): produced on Google Earth and
provided by client
www.joburg.org.za: City of Johannesburg – Joburg’s earliest settlers. Article by Lucille Davie
Coertze, P.J. & Coertze, R.D. 1996. Verklarende vakwoordeboek vir Antropologie en
Argeologie. Pretoria: R.D. Coertze.
Huffman, T.N. 2007. Handbook to the Iron Age: The Archaeology of Pre-Colonial Farming
Societies in Southern Africa. Scotsville: University of KwaZulu-Natal Press.
Knudson, S.J. 1978. Culture in retrospect. Chicago: Rand McNally College Publishing Company.
Korsman, S.A. & Meyer, A. 1999. Die Steentydperk en rotskuns. Bergh, J.S. (red.).
Geskiedenisatlas van Suid-Afrika. Die vier noordelike provinsies. Pretoria: J.L. van
Schaik.
10

Republic of South Africa. 1999. National Heritage Resources Act (No 25 of 1999). Pretoria: the
Government Printer.
Republic of South Africa. 1998. National Environmental Management Act (no 107 of 1998).
Pretoria: The Government Printer.
Van der Ryst, M.M. & Meyer, A. 1999. Die Ystertydperk. Bergh, J.S. (red.).
Geskiedenisatlas van Suid-Afrika. Die vier noordelike provinsies. Pretoria: J.L. van
Schaik.
11

Definition of terms:
Appendix A
Site: A large place with extensive structures and related cultural objects. It can also be a
large assemblage of cultural artifacts, found on a single location.
Structure: A permanent building found in isolation or which forms a site in conjunction with
other structures.
Feature: A coincidal find of movable cultural objects.
Object: Artifact (cultural object).
(Also see Knudson 1978: 20).
12

Cultural significance:
Appendix B
- Low A cultural object being found out of context, not being part of a site or without any
related feature/structure in its surroundings.
- Medium Any site, structure or feature being regarded less important due to a number of
factors, such as date and frequency. Also any important object found out of context.
- High Any site, structure or feature regarded as important because of its age or uniqueness.
Graves are always categorized as of a high importance. Also any important object
found within a specific context.
13

Appendix C – Aerial view of the location of the survey area
14

Dr. A.C.van Vollenhoven
Anton Carl van Vollenhoven
Born: 20 January 1966
Married, with two children
Bilingual
Academic Qualifications
APPENDIX D – ABBREVIATED CV – COMPANY MEMBERS
BA (UP) 1986
BA (HONS) UP 1988
MA (ARCHAEOLOGY) UP 1992
Post-Graduate Diploma in Museology UP 1993
Diploma in Tertiary Education UP 1993
MA (Afrikaans Cultural History) US 1998
D.Phil (Archaeology) UP 2001
Employment History
1988-1991: Fort Klapperkop Military Museum
1991-1999: National Cultural History Museum. Work as Archaeologist, as well as Curator/Manager of
Pioneer Museum (1994-1997)
1999-2007: City Council of Pretoria and City of Tswhane Metropolitan Municipality. Work as Curator:
Fort Klapperkop Heritage Site (1999-2002). Acting Deputy Manager Museums and Heritage (1 March
– 31October 2002), and Deputy Manager Museums and Heritage (1 December 2002 – 30 July 2007).
Resigned to work for Archaetnos cc on a fulltime basis.
Anton has also been a part-time lecturer in Archaeology at the University of Pretoria and a part-time
lecturer on Cultural Resources Management in the Department of History at the University of Pretoria
between 1988 and 2003.
Publications
Dr.van Vollenhoven has published nearly 67 articles in scientific and popular journals on archaeology
and history, and also has been the author and co-author of over 100 unpublished reports on cultural
resources surveys and archaeological work. He has also published a book on the Military
Fortifications of Pretoria.
A complete list of these publications can be supplied.
Mr. A.J.Pelser
Anton Johan Pelser
Born: 23 December 1971
Single, with one child
Bilingual
Academic Qualifications
BA (UNISA) 1995
BA (HONS) Archaeology WITS 1997
MA Archaeology WITS 2003
Busy with PHD Archaeology (Proposal stage) - UNISA
15

Employment History
1991 – 30 September 2006 National Cultural History Museum. Between February 1991 and October
1994 worked as assistant in Collections Management Department. From 1994 to 1998 work as
Assistant Museum Scientist in the Research Department (Archaeology). From 1998 to September
worked as Museum Scientist (Researcher: Archaeology) in the same department. Was the Curator of
the Archaeology Collection at the Museum during this time. Resigned to conduct Cultural Heritage
Consultancy work and research in September 2006 on a full-time basis.
Publications
Mr. Pelser has published nearly 30 articles in scientific and popular journals on archaeology and
history, and has also been the author and co-author of more than 250 unpublished reports on cultural
resources surveys and archaeological work. Anton has recently contributed a chapter on Archaeology
in a book on the geology and history of the Vredefort Dome, compiled by the Geology Department of
WITS University. This book was published and launched in conjunction with the proclamation of the
Dome as the newest SA World Heritage Site during July/August 2005.
A complete list of publications can be supplied.
16