S A ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY *
WESTERN CAPEBRANCH [Including the Southern Cape]
Facebook: South African Archaeological Society Western Cape Branch
*Registered as a Nonprofit Organisation;
Number 024-893-NPO, Nonprofit Organisations Act, 1997.
NEWSLETTER: 2017:2APRIL – JUNE 2017
Dear Members,
In this newsletter you will find: Notice of our 9 May AGM; announcements of forthcoming monthly talks; an 8 April outing; and a proposal for a Karoo – N. Cape excursion in early June.
Regarding our AGM we could do with some ‘new blood’ on the committee; some of us have been around quite a while and fresh ideas and energy in planning activities would be most welcome. Only 2 more places available on the committee! Don’t delay – come on board today! Contact Yvonne to discuss if you feel you might like to consider this.
We welcome NEW MEMBERS since the last newsletter: Wynand Ackermann, Azraa Bux, Robin Granger, Nadine Kocerhan, Megan Malherbe, Jade MacDonnell, Vuyiswa Lupuwana, Simangaliso Makalima, Ginny Mes, Makhosi Mkhize, Cornelius Mushangwe, Robert Nyamushosho, Jordan Scholfield.
One more thing …… Come along on Nigel’s Durbanville walkabout on Sat. 8 April …….. see next page!
Kind regards from your Committee.
OUTING – DURBANVILLE – SATURDAY 8 APRIL 2017 – 9:45 for 10:00
Nigel Amschwand will lead a walkabout in what remains of old Durbanville including Rust-en-Vrede(approx. 1808), the Dutch Reformed Church (1826) and the Durbanville Synagogue 1927. A brochure will be provided.
Meeting place:Rust-en-Vrede (Manor House & Museum), 10 Wellington Rd., cor.Oxford Rd., Durbanville. A map will be sent to those who book.
Time: 9:45 for 10:00
Itinerary: A circular walk ending at Rust-en-Vrede where you might like to stop for a light lunch.
Arch Soc fee: R30 which includes a brochure. Payable in cash on arrival.
Booking: The walk is limited to 25 people Please contact Nigel at
to reserve a place.
Monthly Meetings– new starting time 18:30. Members and visitors welcome from 18:00
MONTHLY MEETING – 11APRIL
TUESDAY 11APRIL:18:00 for 18:30at the SA Astronomical Observatory auditorium:Willem Hutten: “Making sense of archaeological data - a case study of the 1806 Battle of Blaauwberg”.
For many researchers the archaeological data collection is the most exciting aspect of the research. The physical excavation takes hours, if not days of preparation, and normally extends to a number of field work seasons. Whilst many research questions are answered on site from what is exposed, the real research actually starts in the lab when all the data are being analysed.
During many field surveys of the battlefield of the 1806 Battle of Blaauwberg, a large number of artefacts have been retrieved that must be analysed in order to obtain a better comprehension of the sequence of events. Unfortunately there is no reference to similar research in the South African context - so the question is posed - "what do the retrieved artefacts tell us?"
How do we start making sense out of the data that we now have at our disposal? Which artefacts could possibly assist in our understanding of the events? How can the spatial distribution of the finds be linked to historical documentation? These are only some of the challenges the researchers faced throughout the investigation into the battlefield.
Even though there are still many unanswered questions regarding the battle, the research into the events has certainly revealed interesting perspectives that warrant further investigation. This discussion on the analysis process aims to provide insight into preliminary results of the ongoing research.
2
SOUTH AFRICAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY
- WESTERN CAPE BRANCH
NOTICE OF THE YEAR 2017 ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 8(i) of the Constitution that the Annual General Meeting of the Western Cape Branch of the Society will be held at 18:30 on Tuesday 9 May 2017, at the auditorium of the S.A. Astronomical Observatory, Observatory, Cape Town.
Nominations for the Committee must reach the Chairman, Yvonne Viljoen, by Monday 8 May 2017 at or c/o P O Box 426, Muizenberg, 7950. If further information is required, please phone her at 021 788 5620.
The constitution allows for 10 people to serve on the Committee. Written acceptance of the nomination by the nominee must be provided. The following committee members are available for re-election: Nigel Amschwand, Wendy Black, Sona Buys, Connie Feast, Jean Gray, Lyne McLennan, Madelon Tusenius, Yvonne Viljoen. Nominations from members willing to assist in planning activities (lectures, day outings and out-of town-excursions) would be welcome.
A G E N D A
- Welcome
- Apologies
- Confirmation of Minutes of previous AGM held on
10 May 2016
- Matters Arising from the Minutes
- Chairman’s Report
- Treasurer’s Report
7. Election of new Committee for 2017/2018
Directions to the SAAO auditorium – Venue for talks.
Coming from the N2, turn off to the M57 – Liesbeek Parkwayin the directionof Cape Town and continue to the 4-way traffic lights passingHartleyvale (hockey and football) on your left.Turn right at the traffic lightsinto Observatory Road,pass the River Clubon your left andgo over the bridge over the LiesbeekRiver.The SA Astronomical Observatory is next on the left. Once through the main sliding security gate, the boom will be opened for you; proceed straight ahead, pass the main building[on your right] following the S.A.L.T. & AUDITORIUM signs, to the last building on the left.
3
MONTHLY MEETING – 9 MAY
TUESDAY 9 MAY:18:00for 18:30 at the SA Astronomical Observatory auditorium: Matthias Brenzinger. “Non-Bantu click languages versus “Khoisan”: Linguistic reality and ideological aspirations”
Only 13 non-Bantu click languages, often referred to as “Khoisan” languages are still spoken today. The presentation will start off by providing an overview on the distribution of the speakers of these languages, as well as on their genetic relationships.
The term “Khoisan” is used among expert linguists, archaeologists, entrepreneurs and cultural activists. Not only between these different groups, but also among members of the same group, meanings vary as do the motives for employing the term “Khoisan”. The presentation traces the meanings of the term and the ways it is employed along a diachronic timeline. The changing connotation of the term and its uses within the four groups are parallel, independent developments and are discussed as such. In doing so, prevailing definitions of “Khoisan” within the four user categories are presented and cross references then summarize the diverse senses in which “Khoisan” appears in present South Africa.
PROPOSED EXCURSION TO KAROO & N.CAPE
FRIDAY 2 JUNE TO SUNDAY 11 JUNE
Guided by David Morris of the McGregor Museum (Kimberley) and other local guides, we propose to visit the well-recorded Bushman and Khoe rock engravings in the Nelspoort (near Beaufort West) area and others in the Kimberley area. In Kimberley we will visit the McGregorMuseum and other museums. Barkly West area is also of interest. In the north, we may be based in Kuruman and en route will visit Kathu, an area famous for deposits of handaxes. Our main visit will be to the large and important site of WonderwerkCave.
If you would be interested in such a trip, please contact Yvonne Viljoen ( or 021788 5620) as soon as possible even if the proposed dates do not suit you as alternative timing could probably be negotiated.
As you can appreciate, considerable organisaton is required and this can only proceed if the number of interested members warrants the time and effort. A minimum of 15 committed participants is required in order for planning to proceed.
4
MONTHLY MEETING – 13 JUNE
TUESDAY 13 JUNE: 18:00 for 18:30 at the SA Astronomical Observatory
auditorium: Ben Schoville: “How did Middle Stone Age people use stone tools in the CapeFloristicRegion?”
Humans are able to use culture to adapt to their environment. Evidence of past adaptations is available from the surviving stone tools and animal bones from archaeological sites. The Cape Floristic Region (CFR) presents a unique environment for early modern humans in the Middle Stone Age (~160,000 to 40,000 years ago). Diverse plants and animals, as well as a changing coastline due to climate change required adaptive technologies in order to meet the challenges of the Pleistocene world. This study focuses on understanding ancient tool use by examining the broken edges of stone tools from archaeological assemblages across the landscape.
Humans plan their movements on the landscape based on the availability of food, water, and protection from the elements or other human groups. To understand how foragers used this dynamic landscape, I analyse cave and open-air site contexts from both coastal and interior settings in the CFR.
An extensive experimental program using replicated stone tools allows the function of archaeological artefacts to be inferred and provides evidence that new hunting technologies developed alongside, rather than replacing, existing technologies ~75,000 years ago. Humans survived in the CFR by using some stone tools for many activities similar to how we use Swiss Army knives today, while other tools were used for specific tasks to overcome specific challenges. A landscape perspective helps us to understand these patterns and their implications for modern human origins.
Our BranchFacebook pagecan be found under the name: South African Archaeological Society Western Cape Branch.Visit it for advertisements of current lectures, articles of interest and to make a comment. Please Like the page and Share it.
ARE YOU INTERESTED IN READING CURRENT RESEARCH(Archaeology & related) MORE WIDELY?
As a paid up membermember of the S A Arch Soc, you can freely download academic papers from a variety of publications viaJSTOR.
Contact Carole Goeminne at Head Office ( or 021 762 7347) andyou will be given the necessary password to do so.
5
ARCHAEOLOGY BOOKS FOR SALE
ArchFox Books will assist in obtaining books on archaeology be they new or out of print as well as second-hand copies of rare books.For a list of the available books on sale, please go to ‘Sales’ on the Northern Branch website at further information contact Reinoud Boers at or Tel. 011 803 2681, or begin_of_the_skype_highlighting011 803 2681FREE.end_of_the_skype_highlighting,
Cell 082566 6295, 082 566 6295 FREE, or fax 0866 199 133.
OTHER BRANCHES’ & SOCIETIES’ ACTIVITIES
Northern (ex-Trans-Vaal) Branch - Monthly talks are given in Johannesburg but the dayand date vary. For information visit
KwaZulu-Natal Branch – For information on talks and outings:
Trans!GaribBranch serves the central and west-central interior of South Africa.Visitorsare welcome to make contact with David Morris, McGregorMuseum, Kimberley. Tel: +27 (0) 82 222 4777; or e-mail:
Egyptian SocietyofSouth Africa (TESSA)
Meetings: Fourth Tuesday of every month at St George'sGrammar School, Richmond Road, Mowbray at 19.30. Lecture titles are advertised in the local press but further information can be obtained by phoning 021 557 5082.
Historical Society of Cape Town. The Historical Society of Cape Town meets at the Josephine Mill on the second Monday of every month (except January) at 8pm. There are occasional outings, usually on a Saturday. The contact persons areHelen Robinson& her son David Macnamara: e-mail:nd phone number: 021 797 9600.
HoutBayMuseum. 4 Andrews Road, HoutBay. Open: 8:00-16:00 Monday to Friday. Lectures on last Thursday of the month; 18:30 – 20:00. Contact: Manager: Jonty Dreyer Tel: 021 790 3270. E-mail: .
FishHoekValleyMuseum. 59 Central Circle, Fish Hoek. Tel. 021 782 1752 Sally). Open Tuesdays to Saturdays 9:30 to 12:30 Other times by appointment. Displays on PeersCave, localhistory & local environment.
6