Excavations Resume at Welgevonden, Kaingo Nature Reserve
The latest excavation season is underway at Welgevonden on the Kaingo Nature Reserve, led by Professor Lyn Wadley of the Evolutionary Studies Institute, Wits University. This year, the team is smaller, consisting of Dr. Rosa Mol and KZN Museum's Dr. Ghilraen Laue, who have returned to continue their research at the site. Excavations at Welgevonden began in September 2023, and this season marks the conclusion of work at this location.
A Delayed Start Due to Heavy Rains
Heavy rains in the Waterberg region delayed the start of the excavation by nearly a week. Floodwaters rendered the bridge leading to the site impassable, forcing the team to postpone fieldwork until conditions improved. Fortunately, the Kaingo Nature Reserve boasts an excellent research facility, allowing the team to continue lab work while waiting for access to the site.
For more information on the Kaingo Research Centre, visit: Kaingo Research Centre.
Overcoming Muddy Challenges
Navigating the waterlogged terrain proved difficult, and at one point, the museumโs 4x4 vehicle became stuck in the mud. A TLB had to be brought in to extract it from the deep, slippery track. While this incident might invite some good-natured teasing, Dr. Laue followed the rangerโs instructions and was simply the third vehicle to cross the area before the road gave way. Despite the adventure, the vehicle remains in good conditionโthough it will certainly need a thorough cleaning upon return!
Transforming an Overgrown Site
The impact of the rains was evident at the excavation site itself. The path leading to the site, as well as the trench itself, had become completely overgrown. Before the previous season ended, the team had filled the trench with sandbags to protect it. Now, standing at the edge of the excavation area, the difference is striking. Photos taken before and after clearing the site highlight just how much work was needed to prepare the area for this seasonโs dig.
On the top is a picture of the river taken last year September from almost the same angle - and on the bottom is a picture of the river in flood. The bridge the team had to cross is in the top part of this video and totally covered in water
Continuing Archaeological Research at Kaingo
Welgevonden is the third site excavated by the team at Kaingo Game Reserve, following previous research at Kaingo Sheep Shelter and Woodstock Rocks. These sites have contributed significantly to our understanding of past human activity in the region. Below are links to publications detailing findings from those excavations:
What a lovely road block to have on the way to the site !
Focusing on the front square meter of the excavation trench due to the presence of a large rock
Rosa showcases a Middle Stone Age (MSA) core discovered during the excavation. A core is a rock from which flakes were removed to create stone tools. While the site has not yet been dated, samples have been collected for analysis. However, the stone tool technology confirms that we are excavating MSA layers, which in South Africa date back approximately 300,000 to 30,000 years ago.
Mapping discoveries in the field
Ghilraen holds the prism to mark a find over 3cm, while Rosa records its exact location using an Environmental Data Mapper (EDM)
Rosa and Lyn examine a possible Early Stone Age (ESA) core, dating back over 300,000 years. ESA artefacts, typically found downhill from the excavation site, appear to have been occasionally brought in by Middle Stone Age (MSA) people.
A leopard made a surprise visit to our siteโboth a thrilling and awe-inspiring moment.
According to the Kaingo Game Reserve, "the leopard disappeared behind the rocks and reappeared moments later with a sub-adult leopard by her side. They spent quite some time around the archaeological dig site before vanishing into the bush." An exhilarating once in a lifetime experience.
Stay tuned for further updates as the excavation progresses.
