AE01757V
A REPORT ON AN UPDATE OF THE CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR A PROPOSED MINING RIGHT APPLICATION AT THE OVERLOOKED COLLIERY, BETWEEN BETHAL AND HENDRINA, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
In March 2013, Archaetnos cc prepared a cultural heritage impact assessment (HIA) for a mining right application for the Overlooked Colliery. This was approved by SAHRA and was followed by a Management plan for graves and a historical farm yard site, done in November 2013. A community member now indicated a single grave located within the mining area. Archaetnos was therefore requested to investigate the site, to determine whether it was indeed a grave and if so, to update the HIA.
The Overlooked mine is located on the farm Halfgewonnen190 IS, between Bethal and Hendrina in the Mpumalanga Province.
As the aim was only to look at a single site, the information from the previous report was deemed suitable and the field survey was only aimed at visiting this particular site. The site was nevertheless documented according to the general minimum standards accepted by the archaeological profession.
The site was indeed believed to be a grave. Therefore the number of sites at the mine now accounts up to three. All of these are discussed in the report and mitigation measures are proposed. Reference is however made to the Management Plan, which dealt with mitigation measures for the first two sites. After implementation of these, the proposed development may continue.
It should be noted however that the subterranean presence of archaeological and/or historical sites, features or artifacts is always a distinct possibility. Care should therefore be taken when the development commences further that if any of these are discovered, a qualified archaeologist be called in to investigate.
It is also important to take cognizance that it is the client’s responsibility to do the submission of this report via the SAHRIS System on the SAHRA website. No work on site may commence before receiving the necessary comments from SAHRA.