Projects - Archaeological Excavations of Late Iron Age settlements at Extension 6 Lydenburg

The recommendation by the local archaeologist was to map the sites and then apply for an excavation permit in an effort to mitigate the sites before development activities continue. Upon completion of the mapping of the sites, the permit was issued by SAHRA and in March 2009 excavation of the sites commenced. The excavations were completed in April 2009. Besides the LIA component, a number of later historical elements were also present. The excavations concentrated on both the LIA and historical elements. A provisional report was finalised and lodged with SAHRA during May/June 2009 in order for a destruction permit to be issued so that the development work can continue. A second important historical feature, Fort Howard, will be extensively researched as a second phase of this project. A number of stone-walled structures and features are all associated with construction activities by British Forces during the Anglo Boer War (1899 -1902) and the contact between Europeans and local inhabitants. Archival investigation support and confirm that some of these were part of the British Fortification known as Fort Howard. Although these locations are separated by a couple of hundred meters, it is believed that they represent features of this fortification. The Fort was probably constructed in 1900 as mention of it is made in the dairy of the Transport Officer of the 2nd Rifle Brigade, Alec Harmen. The construction of the Fort is also captured in another account by a British Officer, Captain Speyer (Speyer, 1902: 29). "During our march to Spitzkop, the Rifle Brigade left behind to guard Lydenburg, had built a very fine fort line on the rising ground to the West of the town blocking the road coming in from across the Steenkampsberg. This fort they christened Fort Howard". And further: "It was occupied by two companies, and our two Howitzers were dug into gun-emplacements there". From this the position and function of the fort is clear. Harmen’s diary also describe how companies relieved one another of duty at Fort Howard, proof that a number of men were stationed there at any one time ( Harmen diary, Jan 19th, 1900).