Precolonial coastal archaeology between Table Bay and Yzerfontein, Western Cape, South Africa: a review of historical and recent observations

• Published in: Southern African humanities 2020-01, Vol.33 (1), p.133-168
• Main Authors: Orton, Jayson, Avery, Graham, Halkett, David, Hart, Tim, Kaplan, Jonathan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Archaeology; BLOUBERGSTRAND; Cultural resource management; Customer relationship management software; Human burials; Melkbosstrand; Riebeeck, Jan van; Shell middens; Shell scatters; Table Bay; Yzerfontein
• ISSN: 1681-5564; 2305-2791
• DOI: 10.10520/ejc-nmsa_sah-v33-n1-a6

This paper reviews the precolonial coastal archaeological record from Table Bay to Yzerfontein. The observations include amateur and professional historical reports, academic publications and a large body of grey literature generated by cultural resources management (CRM) practitioners. Primary archaeological information is relatively sparse due to the extensive historical development of the coastline, with most data generated by recent CRM work. The radiocarbon record established from burials and shell middens extends back through 6 000 years; beyond that, isolated occurrences of Middle and Early Stone Age materials exist, notably including the Middle Stone Age shell midden, Ysterfontein 1. Further archaeological sites are likely to occur in the review area but sites in better context are more likely to be found in the north, where development pressure has been less intense. Given the continuing development around Table Bay, CRM work will continue to drive the generation of archaeological data in the area.