AE1079
A report on the archaeological investigation of graves on the farm Nooitgedacht 300 JS, impacted on by the Landau colliery mining operations, near Witbank (Emalahleni)
Mpumalanga Province
Summary
During May Archaetnos cc was appointed by Anglo Operations Ltd, Landau Colliery, to conduct a HIA on the farm Nooitgedacht 300 JS for their expanding opencast coal mining operations. They were aware of graves on the farm, and these had to be assessed as well. After the HIA Archaetnos cc was appointed by Landau Collieries, in conjunction with Selala Funerals Witbank, to assist with the investigation and exhumation of a number of graves, located on the farm. The ARC on the HIA given by SAHRA (July 2010) concurred with our findings and recommendations in this regard, and after all processes were followed a permit was issued to us by SAHRA’s BGG Unit. Descendants were traced by the mine for most of the graves and they gave permission for the actions to be undertaken. The graves were exhumed and relocated to the Kromdraai Local Cemetery.
This document constitutes a final report on the results of the fieldwork undertaken and is associated with Permit BG/10/00/001/87. Each individual burial is discussed in Appendix 2 (Burial Forms). A summarized discussion is also given.
We believe that the archaeological investigation, exhumation and relocation of the 19 graves from the area were conducted successfully and that the proposed development can continue, taking into consideration a number of recommendations put forward at the end of the report.
Report by
A. J.Pelser