AE01741V
A REPORT ON A CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT ON THE REMAINDER OF HOLDING 22, WATERVAL SMALL HOLDINGS, RUSTENBURG, NORTH WEST PROVINCE
Purpose:
Archaetnos cc was requested by Hydro Science to conduct a cultural heritage impact assessment (HIA) for a proposed development on the Remainder of Holding 22, Waterval Small Holdings. This is close to the town of Rustenburg in the North West Province.
Project description:
The development entails a warehouse / storage facilities. This includes sewage, water, electricity, roads, buildings and storm water drainage. The HIA forms part of the Basic Assessment start of the process.
Methodology:
The methodology for the study includes a survey of literature and a field survey. The latter was conducted according to generally accepted HIA practices and was aimed at locating all possible objects, sites and features of cultural significance in the area of the proposed development.
If required, the location/position of any site was determined by means of a Global Positioning System (GPS), while photographs were also taken where needed. The survey was undertaken by doing a physical survey via off-road vehicle and on foot and covered as much as possible of the area to be studied. Certain factors, such as accessibility, density of vegetation, etc. may however influence the coverage.
All sites, objects, features and structures identified were documented according to the general minimum standards accepted by the archaeological profession. Co-ordinates of individual localities were determined by means of the Global Positioning System (GPS). The information was added to the description in order to facilitate the identification of each locality.
Public consultation:
Public consultation was handled by HydroScience. This is a full public participation process and is dealt with as per NEMA requirements.
Findings:
During the survey no sites of cultural heritage significance were identified.
Recommendations:
- This report is seen as ample mitigation.
- The proposed development may therefore continue, but only after being approved by SAHRA.
- It should be noted that the subterranean presence of archaeological and/or historical sites, features or artifacts is always a distinct possibility. Due to the density of vegetation, it also is possible that some sites may only become known later on. Operating controls and monitoring should therefore be aimed at the possible unearthing of such features. Care should therefore be taken when development commences that if any of these are discovered, a qualified archaeologist be called in to investigate the occurrence.