AE01813V
A REPORT ON A CULTURAL HERITAGE IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE PROPOSED MINING APPLICATION ON THE FARMS ONGEZIEN 365 JS AND OLIFANTSLAAGTE 378 JS, MPUMALANGA PROVINCE
Purpose:
Archaetnos cc was requested by Geovicon Environmental (Pty) Ltd to conduct a cultural heritage impact assessment (HIA) for a proposed mining application on the farms Ongezien 365 JS and Olifantslaagte 378 JS. This is north-east of the town of Middelburg in the Mpumalanga Province.
Project description:
The development consists of open cast mining areas as well as related infrastructure. The latter includes stockpiles, offices, pollution control dams and water trenches.
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 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 to facilitate the identification of each locality.
Findings:
During the survey no sites of cultural heritage significance were identified.
Recommendations:
- As no sites of cultural heritage importance were identified this report is regarded as ample mitigation.
- The proposed development may therefore continue.
- 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. 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.