AE01170
A report on the archaeological investigation of a grave yard on the farm Almietfontein 141 IR, impacted on by a housing development at Eden Park West, Ekhuruleni in the Gauteng Province
Summary
During November 2010, Archaetnos cc was requested by African Grave Relocation Specialists on behalf of Superway Construction and the Ekurhuleni Metropolitan Municipality to do a HIA at Eden Park West where a housing development is planned. It was indicated that 9 graves are known in the area to be impacted on. During the HIA it was found that there were at least 33 graves.
Permission was obtained from SAHRA to have the graves exhumed and reburied. An extensive process of social consultation was done by African Grave Relocation Specialists (AGRS) who also served as undertakers for the project. The number of the permit obtained from the Burial Grounds and Graves Unit (BGG) of the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) is BG/11/05/002/87.
The grave yard is located on the farm Palmietfontein 141 IR. This is in Ekurhuleni in the Gauteng Province.
The archaeological investigations at the site commenced during July 2011. Apart from the 33 graves identified during the HIA, some tests were also dug and the remains of a further three individuals were found. Grave number 11 was found not be a grave, making the total number of graves 35. Other tests revealed no human remains.
Twenty-five of the graves contained skeletal remains, but none have been identified by families. For those 10 not containing skeletal remains, other grave associations (if found) and a soil sample was taken for reburial.
It is believed that the archaeological investigation, exhumation and relocation of the graves from the site were conducted successfully. Therefore the housing development may continue.
Report by
Dr. A.C. van Vollenhoven (L.AKAD.SA.)
Jaco van der Walt