01962V
ANNUAL REPORT ON THE ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF THE EASTERN REDOUBT (EAST FORT), A BRITISH MILITARY FORTIFICATION, DATING TO THE ANGLO-BOER WAR (1899-1902) (REPORT NO. VI)
Summary
This report serves as the sixth annual report on archaeological excavations done at the East Fort in Pretoria. It refers to the excavation done in 2018. Previous reports (I-V) dealt with the excavation done between 2013 and 2017.
The East Fort is located on Stuben Hill in Pretoria and is one of various fortifications built by the British during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902). The fort was built during 1901.
Historical research is also done on the site. Archives in both South Africa and the United Kingdom had been utilised and included the national archives in both countries as well as private and museum archives.
In total nine excavations had been done, but only Excavations 1, 5 and 6 were worked in 2018. Excavation 1 focuses on the northern building inside of the fort, believed to be the garrisons quarters. Excavation 5 and 6 are aimed at investigating two different rooms on the southern side of the fort.
Artefacts unearthed are carefully documented and packed to be analysed at a later stage. Each annual report includes a complete list of artefacts as well as an analysis report thereon (Appendix A). Upon completion the excavated material is handed to the Fort Klapperkop Heritage Site which serves as repository. Here it is curated. A small display of the site and excavations was also installed here and is upgraded annually in lieu of the latest information.
The current indications are that the following activity areas had been identified via excavation:
- Excavation 1 – possible garrisons quarter
- Excavation 2 – defensive outlook post
- Excavation 3 – store room and defensive post
- Excavation 4 – gun emplacement
- Excavation 5 – possible officers’ quarters
- Excavation 6 – possible mess hall
- Excavation 7 – blacksmith area
- Excavation 8 – office/ domestic room
- Excavation 9 – possible passage
The site is excavated once a year for a single week and thus progress is relatively slow. As a result, further excavation of the site is needed.
Report by:
Anton C. van Vollenhoven BA, BA (Hons), DTO, NDM, MA (UP), MA (US), DPhil (UP), Man Dip (TUT), DPhil (History) [US], L.AKAD. SA