cultural material from burials on the farm st. clair, douglas area, northern cape

South African Archaeological Society

Cultural Material from Burials on the Farm St. Clair, Douglas Area, Northern CapeAuthor(s): A. J. B. HumphreysSource: The South African Archaeological Bulletin, Vol. 37, No. 136 (Dec., 1982), pp. 68-70Published by: South African Archaeological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3888678 .

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68 The South African Archaeological Bulletin

CULTURAL MATERIAL FROM BURIALS ON THE FARM ST. CLAIR, DOUGLAS AREA, NORTHERN CAPE*

A. J. B. HUMPHREYS Department of Anthropology University of the Western Cape Bellville 7530

ABSTRACT

The grave goods associated with burials excavated on the farm St. Clair are examined in relation to similar material from burials found along the Riet River and in the context of cultural interrelationships in the area in general. The burials yielded clear evidence of trade with Iron Age communities to the north.

Introduction The recent paper by Alan G. Morris (1981) on some of the burials found along the Riet River, as well as sustained interest in the cultural milieu which gave rise to the pastoralist Type R settlements, has made it seem worthwhile placing on record some further evidence of culture contact in this area. The information presented here is taken from notes made by the writer in 1975 within the framework of research initiated while he was on the staff of the McGregor Museum, Kimberley.

This paper is concerned with describing the cultural material associated with a series of burials excavated over a number of years on the farm St. Clair, near Douglas. Although St. Clair is not actually on the Riet River, it is situated sufficiently close by and the grave goods show enough similarities with the objects found in Riet burials for the St. Clair burials to be regarded as mirroring a basically similar cultural milieu. They can therefore contribute to the general knowledge of the nature of culture contact in the Riet River area.

Locality The farm St. Clair (29005'S; 23'50'E) is situated on the south

bank of the Vaal River about 6,0 km upstream from Douglas and about 10,0 km downstream from the confluence of the Riet and Vaal Rivers (Fig. 1). The precise location of the burial exca- vations is unknown but information attached to some of them (see below) suggests that they were probably found in alluvial sediments relatively close to the Vaal River. Such a pattern would accord with that documented for the Riet River (e.g. Humphrey 1970; Humphreys & Maggs 1970).

List of the St. Clair Burials The information presented below is taken from the Museum's

physical anthropology accession catalogue and consists of accession number, nature of the material, locality, date accessioned, donor or excavator and other relevant comments (where such occur).

Skeleton MMK 173: Skull and portions of skeleton. St. Clair, 1917. Misses Orpen.

Skeleton MMK 242: Skeleton, St. Clair, 1931. C.H. Inggs. "In new ground for

lands. Skeleton was in a sitting position, knees drawn up and the flat grind stone (No. 1865) squashed against its face, which was quite red from the "rooiklip". Rough square grave lined with stone like a box about 3 ft. below the surface. Also stone muller (no. 1856) found placed against the face, and beads (no. 1836), copper rings."

..............- ....... . .......... ............ ...........- ........... ........ ................................. .................... .... ........... .......... ................... ....... ............................. . ............... ................- ......... .......... . - 1. ... - - ............

................ ...... ............................. ........... ......... ....... ............................... .......... ................. ...... .................

................ ....... ... .. .. .....

.... .............. .......... ......- ............ ....... . ..... _ _11.1...- . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .... . . . . . . . ................. .. . .............. . ........... - - 6 %- ... ...... .................. ...... ........ ........ .. ........ .. .......- ..... ................. _ _ _ .............. ......... ..... . ........... ...... .... ............ ....... ................... ................- ....... .................. ....... ........ ...I .... I., ... I....... ............. ........... ...... ...... ...... ....... ....... - ................. ............. I.... - - - ...... ....... .......... ........... ....- .... - 11 ........ ........ ................... ...... ........ - 1-11. ....I ............ .....I....... I...... ............................. ........ ... .............. - ........ . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I. . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . - I....... I I..... ................ - ......... . .................... .......... ........ . .. . ..... ... . ............... - - .... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ......... ......... ................ .......... ...... ..... . ..... ................ . ....... ........ - . .......... .......... ...... ........... ....... ...... . ....................... .......... ....... ...................... ............. ..... ..... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .

........... I....... ... ............... ............ . . ..... ... .......... ...... .......... ....I... ................................. .. .. .. ...... .. - __ ..... ..........................: ........... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 1 1 1 . 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..................................... .......... 11.11 .... ..... ................. ....... - ................ ........... _ _ ................... .... ... .............. ...... - I.. - ......... ......I... ....... ....... ......................... ..... ...... ................... ........ ........... ....... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I I . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . I................ ...... ... ..... . . ...... ---- .................... -: :.......... ........... .................. 1- 1.1- 11.1 .....- ........ ......... ................. ......................... .. . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

.... ..... . ... .. ..... ...... .............. ...... . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . . ... . . . . . . . .

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........... .. ... ... .. .................. ..........

. .............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ........... .......... ............... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . .......... - ......... ............................................ .................... ....... ...................... . ............................ .. ... .

........................... ................. ...... ............. ....I......................... ...... ..................... ............ .......... ..... .................................................

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.................

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. . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . ... ................... -z' .............. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................... . ..... . . . . I . . .. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. ............ ......... .......... ........................ ............ ................... ..... _ . ............ ...... .......... ......... ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......... ... ......... ................ ... ............... ............... _ . ...... ........ .....I............ ........... . .

MODDER

DOUGLAS,

TYPE R 1P

[ST CL 0

0 100 200

km

Fig. 1. Map showing the position of St. Clair relative to the Riet River burials and the Type R and Iron Age settlement areas. 1. Weltevreden. 2. Driekopseiland. 3. OFD 1. 4. Blaau- wheuwel. 5. Approximate distribution of the Fowler burials.

Skeleton MMK 285: Skull,, Douglas, 1944. L. Orpen. (This burial has been inclu-

ded for completeness although it is recorded as having come from "Douglas" rather than "St. Clair"; the mention of L.

Orpen as the donor suggests that the burial was in fact from St. Clair. Cf. MMK 173 and MMK 286.)

Skeleton MMK 286: Skull, St. Clair, 1944. Miss L. Orpen.

Skeleton MMK 316: Skeleton, St. Clair, 1963. Excavated by G.J. Fock. "On land

near Vaal. Sitting."

Skeleton MMK 317: Skeleton,, St. Clair, 1963. Excavated by G.J. Fock.

"Excavated on land near Vaal. Found one cowrie shell, one

copper button, and pieces of embryo skull. Sitting position."

S. Afr. archaeol. Bull. 37: 68 - 70. 1982 *Received February 198



The South African Archaeological Bulletin 69

Skeleton MMK 321: Skeleton, St. Clair, 1965. Excavated by G.J. Fock. "Found

while cultivating land near river. Blinkklip on top of skull and ochre around body; 3 ft. below surface, very contracted position. OES bead belt, grooved stone."

Description of the Cultural Material

Skeleton MMK 173: An asymmetrical dolerite fragment with a perforation

weathered through the centre. Although the object is of natural origin its distinctive shape suggests the possibility that its asso- ciation with burial was not purely fortuitous. Dimensions: 110 x 105 x 60 mm.

Skeleton MMK 242: (a) A flat grindstone. Unlocated in the Museum. (b) An upper grindstone with two grinding facets each with

pitting in the centre; the ends of the grindstone were used for hammering. The entire stone is encrusted with red ochre. Dimensions: 98 x 75 x 63 mm (Fig 2: 1).

(c) Beads. Unlocated in the Museum. (d) Six fragments of corroded coiled copper wire some 5,0 mm

in diameter and with lengths 42,0 mm, 42,0 mm, 10,0 mm, 10,0 mm, 10,5 mm and 15,0 mm. In the latter case two fragments have become fused together side by side. The fragments together may represent part of a copper bangle (Fig. 2: 2).

(e) Three curved fragments of copper wire with more or less square cross-section of 2,5 mm and lengths of 48,0 mm, 39,0 mm and 21,0 mm. These again may be fragments of a bangle (Fig. 2: 3).

(f) One copper wire fragment one end of which has been ham- mered flat with the extremity folded over. Dimensions: 22 x 8 x 2 mm (Fig. 2: 4).

(g) Three copper rings made of wire with ends rounded but not joined. Diameter of wire: 2.0 mm; diameter of rings; 30,0 mm, 22,0 mm and 23,0 mm (Fig. 2: 5).

Skeleton MMK 316: Six fragments of ostrich eggshell.

Skeleton MMK 317: One cowrie shell and one copper button. Unlocated in the

Museum.

Skeleton MMK 321: (a) Traces of specularite on skull. (b) Evidence of red ochre around the skeleton. (c) 208 ostrich eggshell beads coated with red ochre; mean dia-

meter 5,0 mm. (d) A grooved stone - a single groove in a flat piece of igneous

rock. Dimensions: 64 x 51 x 21 mm (Fig. 2: 6).

i. _

5

7 ~~~~~~~~~~~~cm

Fig. 2. Grave goods from the St. Clair burials. 1. Upper grindstone. 2. Fragments of coiled copper wire. 3. Fragments of a copper bangle. 4. Copper object, partly flattened and with extremity folded over. 5. Three copper finger-rings. 6. Grooved stone. 7. Four Haliotis midae pendants.



70 The South African Archaeological Bulletin

(e) Four pendants of Haliotis midae. Each is roughly triangular in shape with two perforations of about 1,0 mm in diameter drilled through the top broad end of the pendant. Lengths: 16,0 mm, 15,0 mm, 17,0 mm and 15,5 mm. Widths: 9,0 mm, 11,0 mm, 12,9 mm and 10,0 mm. Distance between perforations: 4,0 mm, 5,0 mm, 5,5 mm and 5,5 mm (Fig. 2: 7).

Discussion Although St. Clair is located just outside the known Type R

Settlement Area, it is clear that the burials are related to those occurring along the Riet River. This can be seen in the grave goods where all the items recovered from the St. Clair burials are paralleled by finds from within the Type R Settlement Area. Copper objects have, for example, also been found at Blaauwheuwel (Van Riet Lowe 1931; site marked 4 in Fig. 1), OFD 1 Burial 1 (Humphreys & Maggs 1970; 3 in Fig. 1) and with the Fowler burial Skeleton MMK 227 (Humphreys 1970; Fowler burial area marked 5 in Fig. 1). Cowries were recovered from several of the Fowler burials (Humphreys 1970) while a Haliotis midae pendant was recovered from the Fowler burial Skeleton MMK 239 (Humphreys 1970: fig. 3: 4). Ochre and/or specularite occurred in some Fowler burials, Weltevreden (Humphreys 1970; site marked 1 in Fig. 1), Driekopseiland (Mason 1954; 2 in Fig. 1), and in OFD 1 Burial 1 (Humphreys & Maggs 1970). The grindstones and other Later Stone Age-type artefacts occur in many of the burials already mentioned. Although not distinctive, the flexed rather than extended position of the skeleton recorded for some of the St. Clair burials is similar to the method used along the Riet River. There can thus be no doubt that the St. Clair and Riet River burials are all part of the same cultural tradition.

The St. Clair burials do, however, add a significant dimension to the understanding of the cultural milieu existing along the Riet River. This is particularly so with regard to the copper objects.

Morris (1981: 40) has suggested that the Koffiefontein area (and he could probably have said the Riet River area in general) was well within the trading sphere of the Sotho-Tswana settlement areas to the north. That such trade took place is clearly demonstrated by the copper grave goods from St. Clair. Perhaps the most informative items are the fragments of coiled copper wire found with Skeleton MMK 242 (Fig. 2: 2). These appear to be from a bangle identical to one described by Burchell (1822: vol. II: 567-8) as being in common use among the Tlhaping at Dithakong. Burchell's description and illustration (the bangle is on the extreme right in his sketch) indicate that the bangle was made by winding thin copper wire around a core of animal hair. The corroded St. Clair fragments retain no trace of the animal hair core but the coiled wire is entirely consistent with Burchell's description and there can be little doubt that the fragments represent one of these bangles.

The other copper items can be less precisely identified as to area of origin but they can be related in general terms to finds made by Maggs (1976) on Iron Age sites to the north. Unfortu- nately the Type Z sites of OXF 1 and OMB 1, which can be related to Dithakong through the occurrence of bilobial dwel- lings, produced very little metal work. More metal objects were found on the Type V site 001 and among these were several copper rings directly comparable with those found with Skeleton MMK 242 (cf. Maggs 1976: fig. 36: 30). The site 001 also produced an object similar in some respects to the flattened copper fragment with the folded over end also found with Skel- eton MMK 242 (cf. Maggs 1976: fig. 36: 12). The copper bangles from the same burial are also comparable with iron examples from 001 although the latter did not have a square cross-section (cf. Maggs 1976: fig. 36).

Although these last few copper objects can be compared with examples from Type V sites further away in the Orange Free State, the fact that they all occurred in one grave in associ- ation with the wire bangle clearly linked to the Thlaping at Dithakong suggests that these ornaments were relatively wide-

spread within the Iron Age areas to the north and were not necessarily characteristic of any one group. However, in view of the occurrence of specularite which came from a relatively limited and well-defined area around Postmasburg (Beaumont 1973) it may be suggested that the major area of contact with Iron Age communities would have been to the north and north- west rather than towards the more north-easterly settlement areas in the Orange Free State. The impression of this area of contact also emerges from the writings of the early travellers in general.

The other grave goods do not add much by way of new information but they do serve to amplify the observations made with regard to the Riet River burials. The occurrence of specularite and red ochre, besides probably being of ritual sig- nificance, is also further evidence of the extensive trade in specularite that took place in the northern Cape (Humphreys 1974). The Haliotis shells so far from the sea must also reflect contact of some sort although the routes and associations can- not at this stage be identified. The fact that sea shells have been found in seven burials in the Riet River area is perhaps significant; possibly relatively consistent contact was involved.

As already mentioned, the flexed burial position of the skele- tons from St. Clair corresponds to that found along the Riet River and all the burials would thus appear to pre-date Christian influence with its extended burial position. The stone-lined grave (Skeleton MMK 242) is, however, a new ob- servation. It is unfortunate that no further details were recorded. The fact that it was such a "rich" burial may be relevant.

Conclusion The purpose of this paper has been to describe the cultural

remains from the St. Clair burials and to relate them to the archaeological evidence for culture contact in the Riet River area. It is clear from the discussion above that the burials have a useful contribution to make but future understanding of events that took place along the Riet River over the last several hundred years will be more dependent upon the outcome of Alan G. Morris's work on the physical anthropology of the burials and further research on the history and archaeology of the area, with particular reference to the Type R settlements.

Acknowledgements The primary observations recorded here were made at the

McGregor Museum, Kimberley and I am grateful to the director, Dr. Richard Liversidge, for his cooperation.

References BEAUMONT, P.B. 1973. The ancient pigment mines of

southern Africa. S. Afr. J. Sci. 69:140 - 6. BURCHELL, W.J. 1822. Travels in the interior of Southern

Africa. London: Batchworth Press. HUMPHREYS, A.J.B. 1970. The remains from Koffiefontein

burials excavated by W. Fowler and preserved in the McGregor Museum, Kimberley. S. Afr. archaeol. Bull. 25:104 - 15.

HUMPHREYS, A.J.B. 1974. The occurrence of ostrich egg- shells filled with specularite in the northern Cape. S. Afr. J. Sci. 70:48.

HUMPHREYS, A.J.B. & MAGGS, T.M. O'C. 1970. Further graves and cultural material from the banks of the Riet River. S. Afr. archaeol. Bull. 25:116 - 26.

MAGGS, T.M. O'C. 1976. Iron Age communities of the southern Highveld. Pietermaritzburg: Occasional Publi- cation of the Natal Museum No. 2.

MASON, R.J. 1954. A burial site at Driekopseiland. S. Afr. archaeol. Bull. 9:134.

MORRIS, A.G. 1981. Copper discolouration of bone and the incidence of copper artefacts with human burials in South Africa. S. Afr. archaeol. Bull. 36:36 - 42.

VAN RIET LOWE, C. 1931. Early graves in the Riet River valley. S. Afr. Sci. 28:430 - 4.



cultural material from burials on the farm st. clair, douglas area, northern cape

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