PALAEONTOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (Desktop Study ...

PALAEONTOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
(Desktop Study)

PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON ERF 1283, NOORDHOEK, VELDDRIF
BERGRIVIER LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN CAPE

By

John Pether, M.Sc., Pr. Sci. Nat. (Earth Sci.)
Geological and Palaeontological Consultant

P. O. Box 48318, Kommetjie, 7976
Tel./Fax (021) 7833023
Cellphone 083 744 6295
[email protected]

Prepared at the Request of

SRK Consulting (South Africa.) (Pty) Ltd.
The Administrative Building, Albion Spring

183 Main Road, Rondebosch, 7700

For

BERGRIVIER LOCAL MUNICIPALITY

25 MARCH 2014
Revised 28 April 2014
Revised 29 Sept. 2014 (App. 2)

CONTENTS

1 INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION 2

2 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 2

2.1 AVAILABLE INFORMATION 2
2.2 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS 3
GEOLOGICAL AND PALAEONTOLOGICAL SETTING
3 3
THE REGIONAL GEOLOGY
3.1 THE LOCAL GEOLOGY 3
3.2 EXPECTED PALAEONTOLOGY 6
3.3 The Depositional Environments 9
3.3.1 Fossils of the Velddrif Formation 9
3.3.2 13
SIGNIFICANCE
4 13
THRESHOLDS
5 14
RECOMMENDATIONS
6 15
IMPACT IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT
7 15
NATURE OF THE IMPACT
7.1 Extent 15
7.1.1 Intensity 16
7.1.2 Duration 16
7.1.3 Probability 16
7.1.4 Confidence 16
7.1.5 IMPACT ASSESSMENT TABLE 16
7.2 Cumulative Impact 17
7.2.1 BASIC MEASURES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE EMPS 17
7.3 APPLICATION FOR A PALAEONTOLOGICAL PERMIT 17

8 REPORTING 18

9 REFERENCES 18

10 GLOSSARY 19

11 GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE TERMS (YOUNGEST TO OLDEST). 21

11.1 I 23

12 APPENDIX 1 - FOSSIL FIND PROCEDURES 25

12.1 ISOLATED BONE FINDS 25
12.2 BONE CLUSTER FINDS 26
12.3 RESCUE EXCAVATION 26
12.4 MAJOR FINDS 27

13 APPENDIX 2. PRELIMINARY LAYOUT 28

II

SUMMARY

The Bergrivier Local Municipality intends to provide affordable housing in
Velddrif and proposes to expand the suburb of Noordhoek (Figure 1 &
Appendix 2) onto a large portion of Erf 1283. SRK Consulting (South Africa)
(Pty) Ltd (SRK) has been appointed to undertake the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed project, for submission to the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP)
for authorisation. More than 1000 housing units could be provided in a
development in phased stages, initially 107 erven followed by phases of 200
erven.

Heritage Western Cape (HWC) require a Heritage Impact Assessment that
includes a palaeontological assessment. This report assesses the probability
of palaeontological materials (fossils) being uncovered in the subsurface and
being disturbed or destroyed in the process of bulk earth works associated
with the proposed development. The main purposes are to:

 Outline the nature of palaeontological/fossil heritage resources in the
subsurface of the affected area.

 Suggest the mitigatory actions to be taken with respect to the
occurrence of fossils during bulk earth works.

The project site is situated on the marine Velddrif Formation, straddling the
area where it has been partly eroded to form “Die Brak” (Figures 3 & 4). The
Velddrif Formation “fossil” beach was deposited about 125 thousand years
ago when sea level was 6 m higher than at present. The lower Berg River
was inundated by the sea and later the coast built out seawards again,
forming a wide complex of fossil beaches beneath the Velddrif area. The
deposits are a unique occurrence and their scientific importance has long
been recognized.

Due to the abundance of fossil shell in the Velddrif Formation the proposed
palaeontological mitigation is uncomplicated. The main recommendation is
that the more complete, undisturbed sections exposed in earthworks be
inspected, documented and sampled by a specialist. The purpose of the field
work is to identify stratigraphic contacts, depositional environments
(palaeodepths) and to identify fossil variation/assemblages and obtain
representative samples thereof.

During the excavation of the infrastructure trenches, on-site personnel must be
alert to the occurrence of rare fossil bones. The Environmental Control Officer
(ECO) and construction supervisor must inform staff of the need to watch for
potential fossil bone occurrences. Appendix 1 is a “Fossil Find Procedures”
guideline to be followed by on-site personnel in the event of fossil bone finds.

In the event of possible fossil bone and/or archaeological finds, the contracted
archaeologist or palaeontologist must be contacted. For possible fossil finds,
the palaeontologist will assess the information and liaise with the developer
and the ECO and a suitable response will be established. The ECO or project

III

manager must liaise with the appointed palaeontologist as to the progress of
earthworks and the availability of exposures.

IV

DECLARATION BY THE INDEPENDENT PERSON WHO COMPILED A
SPECIALIST REPORT OR UNDERTOOK A SPECIALIST PROCESS

Palaeontological Impact Assessment (Desktop Study).
PROPOSED AFFORDABLE HOUSING ON ERF 1283, NOORDHOEK,
VELDDRIF, BERGRIVIER LOCAL MUNICIPALITY, WESTERN CAPE

Terms of Reference
This assessment forms part of the Heritage Impact Assessment in the EIA
process and it assesses the probability of palaeontological materials (fossils)
being uncovered in the subsurface and being disturbed or destroyed in the
process of bulk earth works. Mitigatory actions to be taken with respect to the
occurrence of fossils during bulk earth works are proposed.

Declaration
I …John Pether……, as the appointed independent specialist hereby declare
that I:

• act/ed as the independent specialist in the compilation of the above
report;

• regard the information contained in this report as it relates to my specialist
input/study to be true and correct, and

• do not have and will not have any financial interest in the undertaking of
the activity, other than remuneration for work performed in terms of the
National Environmetnal Management Act 107 of 1998 (NEMA), the EIA
Regulations, 2010 and any specific environmental management Act;

• have and will not have any vested interest in the proposed activity
proceeding;

• have disclosed to the Environmental Assessment Practitioner (EAP) any
material information that has or may have the potential to influence the
decision of the competent authority or the objectivity of any report, plan or
document required in terms of the NEMA, the Environmental Impact
Assessment Regulations, 2010 and any specific environmental
management act;

• have provided the EAP with access to all information at my disposal
regarding the application, whether such information is favourable to the
applicant or not; and

• am aware that a false declaration is an offence in terms of regulation 71 of
GN No. R. 543, 2010.

Signature of the specialist

Date: 25 March 2014

V

The author is an independent consultant/researcher and is a recognized
authority in the field of coastal-plain and continental-shelf palaeoenvironments
and is consulted by exploration and mining companies, by the Council for
Geoscience, the Geological Survey of Namibia and by colleagues/students in
academia pursuing coastal-plain/shelf projects.
Expertise

 Shallow marine sedimentology.
 Coastal plain and shelf stratigraphy (interpretation of open-pit exposures and

on/offshore cores).
 Marine macrofossil taxonomy (molluscs, barnacles, brachiopods).
 Marine macrofossil taphonomy.
 Sedimentological and palaeontological field techniques in open-cast mines

(including finding and excavation of vertebrate fossils (bones).
 Analysis of the shelly macrofauna of modern samples e.g. for environmental

surveys.

Membership Of Professional Bodies

 South African Council of Natural Scientific Professions. Earth Science. Reg.
No. 400094/95.

 Geological Society of South Africa.
 Palaeontological Society of Southern Africa.
 Southern African Society for Quaternary Research.
 Heritage Western Cape. Member, Permit Committee for Archaeology,

Palaeontology and Meteorites.
 Accredited member, Association of Professional Heritage Practitioners,

Western Cape.

VI

1 INTRODUCTION

The Bergrivier Local Municipality intends to provide affordable housing in
Velddrif and proposes to expand the suburb of Noordhoek (Figure 1 &
Appendix 2) onto a large portion of Erf 1283. SRK Consulting (South Africa)
(Pty) Ltd (SRK) has been appointed to undertake the Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) process for the proposed project, for submission to the
Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning (DEA&DP)
for authorisation. More than 1000 housing units could be provided in a
development in phased stages, initially 107 erven followed by phases of 200
erven.

Figure 1. Location of the proposed phased housing development on portion of Erf

1283, Velddrif. Extract from 1:50000 topo-cadastral map

3218CA_CC_2003_EDS_GEO.TIF. Chief Directorate National Geo-spatial

Information of South Africa.

Heritage Western Cape (HWC) require a Heritage Impact Assessment that
includes a palaeontological study and an archaeological study. This report
assesses the probability of palaeontological materials (fossils) being
uncovered in the subsurface and being disturbed or destroyed in the process
of bulk earth works associated with the proposed development. The main
purposes are to:

 Outline the nature of palaeontological/fossil heritage resources in the
subsurface of the affected area.

 Suggest the mitigatory actions to be taken with respect to the
occurrence of fossils during bulk earth works.

1

Palaeontological interventions mainly happen once fossil material is exposed
at depth, i.e. once the EIA process is done and construction commences. The
action plans and protocols for palaeontological mitigation must therefore be
included in the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for the project.
Included herein is a general fossil-finds procedure for the appropriate
responses to the discovery of paleontological materials during construction
phases of the proposed development.

1.1 APPLICABLE LEGISLATION

The National Heritage Resources Act (NHRA No. 25 of 1999) protects
archaeological and palaeontological sites and materials, as well as
graves/cemeteries, battlefield sites and buildings, structures and features over
60 years old. The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)
administers this legislation nationally, with Heritage Resources Agencies
acting at provincial level.

According to the Act (Sect. 35), it is an offence to destroy, damage, excavate,
alter of remove from its original place, or collect, any archaeological,
palaeontological and historical material or object, without a permit issued by
the SAHRA or applicable Provincial Heritage Resources Agency, viz. Heritage
Western Cape (HWC).

Notification of SAHRA or the applicable Provincial Heritage Resources Agency
is required for proposed developments exceeding certain dimensions (Sect.
38). If the areal scale of subsurface disturbance and exposure exceeds 300 m
in linear length and 5000 m2 (NHRA 25 (1999), Section 38 (1)), a notification
must be submitted to the relevant Provincial Heritage Resources Agency upon
which they will decide whether or not the development must be assessed for
heritage impacts (an HIA) that may include an assessment of palaeontological
heritage (a PIA).

2 APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY

2.1 AVAILABLE INFORMATION

The overall perspective on the surface geology in this area has been provided
by Visser & Schoch (1973). Rogers (1980, 1982) described aspects of the
large-scale geology of the St. Helena Bay coastal plain, viz. gross bedrock
topography, sediment thicknesses and lithostratigraphy, revealed by a Dept.
Water Affairs drilling programme.

Aspects of exposures of shelly Late Pleistocene, Last Interglacial (LIG)
shoreline deposits in the vicinity of Velddrif were described by Tankard (1975,
1976). Farther north, at sites just inland of the of the shore-parallel dune
barrier, Miller et al. (1993) described sequences deposited in a back-barrier
lagoonal setting that relates to the mid-Holocene sea-level high 4-6 ka (ka =
thousand years ago). Dingle & Honigstein (1994) examined ostracod

2

microfossils from sites in the area. Recently, Pether (2003, 2004) has
documented details of new, temporary exposures at Velddrif and
Dwarskersbos. Other references are cited in the normal manner and included
in the References section.

2.2 ASSUMPTIONS AND LIMITATIONS

It is not possible to predict the buried fossil content of an area other than in
general terms. In particular, the important fossil bone material is generally
sparsely scattered in most deposits and much depends on spotting this
material as it is uncovered during digging i.e. by monitoring excavations.

3 GEOLOGICAL AND PALAEONTOLOGICAL SETTING

3.1 THE REGIONAL GEOLOGY

The bedrock of the region consists of Malmesbury Group shales (Figure 2,
M), impure limestones and volcanics that were deposited over 560 Ma (Ma:
million years ago, Mega-annum) and were later intruded at depth by molten
magmas that solidified and crystallized to become the “Cape Granites”
(Figure 2, G) that now form hills and are also exposed along rocky coasts.
The Malmesbury bedrock surface is deeply buried beneath the
Bergrivier/Velddrif embayment, having been eroded to below sea level (bsl)
and exceeding -20 m bsl. in places (Rogers, 1980). Consequently, overlying
total sediment thicknesses beneath the properties generally exceed 10 m and
are greater than 50 m in apparent palaeovalleys. These sediments are of later
Cenozoic age, deposited during the Neogene and Quaternary periods, i.e. the
last 20 million years and are collectively known as the Sandveld Group
(Roberts et al., 2006).

The buried valleys are filled with the oldest formation of the Sandveld Group,
the Elandsfontyn Formation, consisting of fluvial and marsh deposits laid
down by meandering rivers under humid climatic conditions (Rogers, 1980,
1982). The formation has abundant plant fossils in places, including lignified
logs and plant material. Fossil pollen is indicative of forest vegetation with
palms and is considered to be early to middle Miocene in age (Coetzee, 1978;
Rogers, 1982; Hendey, 1981). This was an interval 20-16 Ma of slow global
warming and rising sea level which culminated in the Mid-Miocene Climatic
Optimum ~16 Ma.

The oldest marine deposits found on the southwestern coastal plain were laid
down during and just after the Mid-Miocene Climatic Optimum ~16-14 Ma.
The ancient shoreline of the transgression maximum (highest level reached by
sea level) is now found about 90-120 m above sea level (asl)., to which it has
been uplifted by the continental edge bobbing up slightly. There is apparently
little obvious evidence of it preserved in the Saldanha region, such as the
seacliffs and boulder beaches seen elsewhere. However, phosphate
mineralization on the summits of higher coastal hills of the Vredenburg

3

Peninsula date from this time when they were islands during the mid-Miocene
submergence and offshore seabird roosts covered in guano. Furthermore, the
mid-Miocene marine sediments are buried beneath the younger deposits and
will be substantially altered by groundwater action and not easily identifiable
from boreholes. This mid-Miocene Saldanha Formation is not unequivocally
identified in the Saldanha region, but buried, residual marine gravels and
sands above ~50 m asl. belong to this formation, while patches of it are likely
preserved in places beneath younger, Pliocene marine deposits.

Figure 2. Basic surface geology of the surrounding area. Geological map of the
Republic of South Africa and the Kingdoms of Lesotho and Swaziland.
1997. Scale 1: 1000000. Council for Geoscience (Geological Survey of
South Africa). Pretoria.

Q: Quaternary deposits, mainly windblown sandsheets, soils, dunes and raised beaches at the
coast and in the Berg River estuary.

LF: The Langebaan “Limestone” Formation aeolianites. The Langebaan Formation is
underlain mainly by marine deposits of Pliocene age (Varswater & Uyekraal fms.). Closer to
the coast, the Quaternary Velddrif Fm. marine and estuarine units underlie or are interbedded in
the aeolianites.

PH: The Prospect Hill Formation. Part of the Langebaan Fm between Saldanha Bay and
Paternoster has now been separated as this new formation, due to fossil finds indicating that it
is significantly older than the other aeolianites included in the Langebaan Formation.

G: Outcrops of various bedrock granites of the Cape Granite Suite.

M: Bedrock outcrops of Malmesbury Group metasediments.

Subsequent Pliocene palaeoshoreline deposits (5-3 Ma) are found below ~50
m asl. (Pether et al., 2000). In the southwestern Cape, these marine deposits
are collectively known as the Varswater Formation. The type locality (main
reference example) is at the West Coast Fossil Park, where the extensive
fossil bone assemblage recovered from the phosphate quarry indicates the

4

early Pliocene age (Hendey, 1981). These fossils were deposited in an
estuarine setting during the transgression to ~50 m asl., about 5 Ma during the
global warming of the Early Pliocene Warm Period. In the wider area, when
sea level later receded from ~50 m asl., fossiliferous shallow-marine deposits
were left mantling the emerged coastal plain.

Sea level rose again during the warming towards the Mid-Pliocene Warm
Period (~3.0 Ma), to a level now ~30 m asl. In the Saldanha embayment west
of the West Coast Fossil Park, the flat plain extending towards the coast is
underlain by these deposits, called the “Uyekraal Formation”, after Rogers (in
Rogers et al., 1990). The Uyekraal marine beds are spatially consistent with
being equivalent to 30 m Package deposits (now called the Hondeklipbaai
Formation), seen in Namaqualand diamond mines as a substantial, prograded
marine formation built out seawards from a sea-level maximum of 30-35 m asl.
(Pether, 1994; Pether, in Roberts et al., 2006). This formation, up to a few km
wide, underlies the outer part of the coastal plains of the West Coast.

During periods of lowering sea level, extensive dune plumes were blown from
the ancient shorelines. These calcareous dunes, mainly composed of tiny
shell fragments, are evident in the coastal landscape as the ridges, low hills
and mounds beneath a capping calcrete crust. The aeolianites overlie the
marine deposits of the coastal plain, resting on wind-deflation erosion surfaces
formed on the marine deposits, and are comprised of sand blown off the
palaeoshorelines by southerly winds and also reworked from the marine
deposits. The oldest dunes recognized comprise the Prospect Hill
Formation (PH, Figure 2), which is the high aeolianite ridge backing the
coastal plain between Saldanha Bay to Paternoster. It includes fossil eggshell
fragments of the extinct ostrich Diamantornis wardi and extinct forms of land
snails (Roberts & Brink, 2002). Based on dated occurrences in the Namib,
East Africa and Arabia, an age of 12-9 Ma is indicated for the Prospect Hill
Formation.

South and west of Velddrif, surface outcrops of the younger, calcified
aeolianites of Langebaan Formation (LF, Figure 2) occupy large areas of the
landscape. At this stage the Langebaan Formation includes various
aeolianites of different ages and is an “amalgam” of the calcareous dune
plumes that formed on the coastal plain, at differing places and times, mainly
during the last ~4 Ma (Pliocene to the late Pleistocene). This is reflected in
the different ages indicated from fossils found at various places:

 a late Pliocene or younger age (Diazville lower quarry, Roberts & Brink,
2002)

 early Quaternary (Skurwerug, Hendey & Cooke, 1985)
 middle and late Quaternary ages are indicated by relationships to Last

Interglacial (~125 ka) and earlier shoreline deposits and by dating of
aeolianites by luminescence methods (OSL) (Roberts et al., 2009).

The Langebaan Formation calcareous aeolianites do dot crop out north of the
Berg River, the latter preventing northward migration of dune plumes sourced
from the south. Instead, the older Mio-Pliocene marine deposits are overlain
by largely structureless muddy sands and quartzose sands of the
Springfontyn Formation. The Springfontyn Formation is an informal
category that accommodates the mainly non-calcareous, windblown sand
sheets and dunes that have covered parts of the landscape during later

5

Pliocene and Quaternary times. North of the Berg River the equivalent
deposits are named the Papkuils Formation (Rogers, 1980), which is thus
the formation name applicable to the project area. However, since the name
“Springfontyn Formation” is more well-known, it will be used herein.

The deposits ascribed to the Springfontyn Formation between Cape Town and
Saldanha do not conform to a single stratigraphic entity. Subsumed in it are
the older, buried, decalcified aeolian and marsh deposits that underlie
Langebaan Formation calcareous aeolianites, as well as younger, poorly-
calcareous aeolianites that overlie the Langebaan Formation and which are
features in the modern landscape. These younger dunes, sand sheets and
soils of Quaternary age (Figure 2, Q) mantle large tracts of the coastal plain.

Further shallow-marine beds occur along the coast below ~15 m asl. These
“raised beaches” were deposited during the Quaternary Period and are
collectively called the Velddrif Formation, which consists of “raised beaches”
of differing ages that fringe the coast (not shown in Figure 2). The most
prominent exposures are those of deposits of the Last Interglacial (LIG), about
125 ka (ka: thousand years ago) and are found up to ~8 m asl. on the open
coast due to storm deposition, but the mean sea level was about 5-6 m asl.
Along most of the West Coast the LIG shelly beach deposits occupy a narrow
zone close to the coast, but they occupy a much wider zone along the St.
Helena Bay coastline north of the Berg River, on the parent farm Velddrif 110
(Figure 3, QB1).

The older part of the Velddrif Formation is very poorly known and is beneath
Q1 and Q2 coversands (Figure 3, oranged-hued area east of Velddrif town). It
is likely to date to ~400 ka. Also prominent on Velddrif 110 is a younger set of
beach ridges west of the LIG deposits and which extend to the modern
shoreline. These represent coastal progradation during the Holocene since ~7
ka and the initial Holocene beach ridges relate to sea level that was slightly
higher than the present level by 2-3 m, known as the mid-Holocene High.

The latest addition of dunes to the coastal plain is Unit Q5 (Figure 3),
otherwise known as the Witzand Formation (Rogers, 1980), comprising
sands blown from the beach in the last few thousand years and accumulated
in the form of a narrow dune cordon or “sand wall” parallel to the coast, or as
dune plumes transgressing a few kilometres inland.

The younger Quaternary aeolian sands and the Velddrif Formation underlie
the project area and are described in more detail below.

3.2 THE LOCAL GEOLOGY

The surface geology of the area surrounding Velddrif is shown in Figure 3,
reproduced from the Visser & Schoch (1972) geological map. The Velddrif
area is unusual in that it is the only part of the South African West Coast
where there is an extensive set of shelly beach ridges preserved, formed by
the building-out of the coast in relatively recent geological times. The coast-
parallel linear pattern of vegetation on the beach ridges and swales is readily

6

seen in aerial images, west of the ploughed land. As mentioned, most of this
coastal progradation took place during the Last Interglacial. The “type locality”
or “reference section” of Last Interglacial sea-level-high deposits on the West
Coast is at Velddrif at locality TS (Figures 3 & 4).

Figure 3. Geology of the project area. From Visser & Schoch (1972), 1:125000 Map
Sheet 255: 3217D & 3218C (St Helenabaai), 3317B & 3318A
(Saldanhabaai).

Q5: Recent (Holocene) dune cordon.
Q1: A widespread surface unit is the recent soil-unit Q1, white to slightly-reddish sandy soil,
which is mainly stabilized sand sheet and locally old dunes blanketing the underlying geology.
Q4: Low-lying areas with brackish calcareous soil and calcrete or saltpans.
QB1: Consists of raised beach deposits of the Quaternary-age Velddrif Formation. The
inferred inland extent is indicated by the pale-orange tinted boundary to the east of the site.
Q2: An older surface soil-unit Q2, shallow sandy soil with heuweltjies (heuweltjiesveld) occurs
inland the coast.
LF: Langebaan Formation
Green donuts: Velddrif Fm. fossil localities mentioned in literature.

 TS – Velddrif Formation Type Section.
 NS – Noordhoek section.
 OB – outer bar section.

The Velddrif Formation was mapped as Unit QB1 (estuarine and beach
deposits) by Visser & Schoch (1972, 1973) (Figure 3). Equivalent estuarine
deposits are found along the banks of the Berg River estuary as far upstream
as Kruispad. Northwards from the Berg River, the shelly QB1 beach deposits
are divided by a prominent, coast-parallel topographic low into an “Outer Bar”
and an “Inner Bar” (sensu lato) (Figure 3). The intervening low is a saline flat,

7

“Die Brak”, which is underlain by brackish calcareous soil and calcrete, unit
Q4. Partial aeolian cover occurs in places along “Die Brak”. This saline flat is
widest on Velddrif 110, but it is not a contiguous feature between the outer
and inner “bars”, as there are higher “islands” of QB1 shelly deposits
preserved within it (Figures 3 & 4), indicative of a previous continuous extent
of QB1 deposits over “Die Brak”.

Surface soil Unit Q4, such as in the eroded area of “Die Brak”, accommodates
low-lying areas with brackish calcareous soil and calcrete or saltpans, usually
overlying marine or lagoonal deposits. “Die Brak” was regarded as a
preserved LIG lagoon by Tankard (1976), formed by emergence of the two
“bars” when sea-level fell from the LIG sea level high. Alternatively, the
explanation preferred here is that “Die Brak” is an erosional feature formed
much later by the southwards diversion of a more active Papkuilsrivier
drainage by the dune cordon. It would have been later flooded to form a
lagoon during the middle Holocene +2-3 m asl. sea-level high, between 7-4
ka.

The uppermost units of the Springfontyn Formation are the surface
“coversand” units Q2 and Q1 mantle the area (Figure 3). Unit Q2 is
characterized by its surface manifestation as the distinct “heuweltjiesveld”, the
densely dot-patterned landscape of low hillocks that are termitaria made by
Microhodotermes viator. “Heuweltjies” are longed-lived features that are
persistently inhabited by generations of termites. They occur in a background
of light reddish-brown, sandy soil, but they have internal calcretes due to
enrichment in calcium by the plant-gathering activity of the termites.

The dot-patterned Q2 “heuweltjiesveld” is merely the surface-soil developed
on top of the Springfoontyn Formation sands. The aeolian sands have been
affected by pedogenesis and layers of ferruginous concretions, clayey beds
and minor calcretes occur among sandy-soil beds (Visser & Schoch, 1973).
This reflects accumulation as sand sheets with intervening periods of soil
formation. Thicker dune-deposited units will be present locally. Fluvial
deposits will be present where small drainages debouched onto the coastal
plain, some terminating “blind” in swamps. Visser & Schoch (1973) mention
greenish hues and saline content in support of a marine origin for “clays”
encountered in shallow excavations in the area, but it is also feasible that such
could be pan deposits. On the flanks of the granite hills soils and colluvium
underlie the Q2 “heuweltjiesveld”.

Surface Unit Q1 is the youngest “coversand” unit of the Springfontyn
Formation and is “white to slightly-reddish sandy soil” (Visser & Toerien, 1971;
Visser & Schoch, 1973). It is most extensive in the form of the composite of
dune plumes between Yzerfontein and the Berg River, seen in aerial images
as the large green area reflecting the uncultivated vegetation cover. North of
the Berg River the distribution of Q1 is patchy on top of the older Q2 surface
and has evidently accumulated in the form of local sand sheets. Visser &
Schoch (1973) consider the sands to be largely derived from older, underlying
Q2 sands and to a lesser extent from the erosion of bedrock, the coastal
dunes and the alluvial deposits of past and present drainage systems.

8

Chase & Thomas (2007) have cored Q1-type coversands at various localities
between Kleinzee and Elandsbaai and applied optically stimulated
luminescence (OSL) dating techniques to establish the timing of sand
accumulation. Their results indicate several periods of deposition of
coversands during the last 100 ka (16–24, 30–33, 43–49 and 63–73 ka).
Underlying sands produced dates from ~150 to ~600 ka, evidently reflecting
the accumulation of deposits beneath the Q2 surface. Although the data are
sparse, this hints that the sub-Q2 Springfontyn Formation accumulated during
the middle Quaternary, before the LIG sea level highstand ~126 ka. Visser &
Schoch (1973) observed that Q2 heuweltjiesveld has not formed on the Last
Interglacial (LIG) Velddrif Formation raised-beach deposits adjacent to the
coast (Figure 3).

3.3 EXPECTED PALAEONTOLOGY

3.3.1 The Depositional Environments

The project site (Erf 1283, Velddrif) is situated on the Velddrif Formation,
straddling the area where it has been eroded to form “Die Brak” (Figures 3 &

4).

Figure 4. Aerial image of portion of Erf 1283, Velddrif proposed for phased housing
development. With translucent geology (Visser & schoch, 1972)
superimposed. Green dots indicate sites mentioned in the literature.

Here in its type area, the Velddrif Formation consists of an upper,
crossbedded shelly unit and an underlying, less shelly, sandy unit, as exposed
at the type section locality at the eroded edge of the “Inner Bar” (location TS,
Figures 5 & 6). To the east the top of the Velddrif Formation is mantled by Q1

9

coversands, but on old aerial photographs the vestigial beach ridges that
characterize the area can still be discerned beneath the Q1 cover. Recent
exposures at the Waste Water Treatment Works (Figure 7) show that up to 2-
3 m of Q1 aeolian sand overlies the irregular, eroded top of the marine
deposits. The aeolian sands are likely to be thicker in the swales beween the
faint relictual ridges. A similar section is exposed near the northern apex of
the project area (location NS, Figure 8), with the crossbedded shelly unit
sharply overlying bioturbated fine sands.

Figure 5. The Velddrif Formation type section, as seen by Tankard (from Tankard,
1976).

Figure 6. The Velddrif Formation type section, as at February 1993. The lower fine
sandy facies is no longer exposed.

10

Figure 7. Exposure of the top of the Velddrif Formation at the WWTW.

Figure 8. Exposure at locality NS on the edge of the “island” in “Die Brak”.
The upper unit mainly reflects the lateral migrations of shelly bars and
intervening channels in the Upper Shoreface (USH, breaker and surf zone).
The shallowest deposits of the LIG shoreline, viz. the intertidal Foreshore (FS)
or beach itself, must have been overlying the USH unit, but it has been mostly
removed by erosion of the top of the progradational sequence. The lower unit
has the facies characteristics of the upper part of the Lower Shoreface (LSH).

11

(Geological facies: an assemblage of associated sedimentary and biogenic
features). It portrays depositional and biological processes seaward of the
breaker-and-surf zone.
The “Outer Bar” to the west is a composite feature. Foreshore (beach)
deposits of the LIG Velddrif Formation are exposed along the edge of “Die
Brak” (location OB, Figure 9). Still farther west, within the “bar”, the Velddrif
Formation has been eroded during the Mid-Holocene sea-level high and
subsequently Holocene beach deposits have prograded seawards to the
modern shoreline.

Figure 9. Velddrif Formation foreshore facies exposed in the edge of the “Outer Bar”,
showing typical, gently-seaward-dipping bedding.
The deposits within “Die Brak”, beneath most of the project area, are less well
known and have the potential of some complexity. Notwithstanding, the floor
of “Die Brak”, beneath the Q4 “soil” or any possible lagoonal or pan deposits,
must consist of a deeper water facies of the LSH, i.e. distal LSH or, given the
low wave energy setting, muddy inner shelf deposits.
In view of the fact that the bedrock beneath Velddrif is deeply buried, it is quite
possible that marine deposits older than the LIG may underlie the LIG Velddrif
Formation deposits, or possibly even mid-Quaternary terrestrial deposits.
Such will only be intersected in particularly deep excavations that exend below
the water table.
A number of observations farther north in “Die Brak” are informative, where
deposits that relate to the aforementioned mid-Holocene sea-level high are
present, when “Die Brak” was flooded by breaching of the Q5 dune barrier. At
Draaihoek, the ostracod fauna in a ~2 m section (Dingle & Honigstein, 1994)
shows normal-salinity, coastal-marine muddy sands overlain by sands
deposited in a high-salinity evaporative lagoon. This is succeeded by
fluctuating high-salinity and freshwater conditions in the lagoon and ultimately
by a freshwater lagoon. Similarly, on Soutkloof and Langdam, excavations in

12

“Die Brak” revealed marine and brackish water lagoonal environments (Miller
et al., 1993). Similar deposits are expected in “Die Brak” on Velddrif.

3.3.2 Fossils of the Velddrif Formation

The fossil shell fauna of the Velddrif Formation is predominantly composed of
“modern” or living species, but not all of them live along our coast today. The
Velddrif Formation shell beds are famous for exotic, warm-water, tropical
species that today live along the Angolan coast and farther northwards.
These “thermally anomalous” mollusca were described by Tankard (1975) and
Kensley (1974, 1985a & b), with taxonomy dealt with in Kilburn & Tankard
(1975). The warm-water West African taxa populated the South African coast
during the LIG and are found in the “raised beach” deposits all the way round
to the Port Elizabeth area. They were able to pass the biological barrier
imposed by the cold, upwelling Benguela System, probably under conditions
like “Benguela Niños” when the Angolan Current pushes southwards and
suppresses upwelling. Further southward and eastward dispersal could have
been accomplished by inshore currents developed during westerly winds
associated with the passage of mid-latitude cyclones.

The LIG was apparently a “super-interglacial” for a time, warmer than present
and with changed climate and oceanography. There is evidence that the
same scenario occurred during earlier interglacials, as the exotics also occur
in “raised beach” deposits that are higher and older than the LIG sea level
(see 6 below).

In addition to the exotic species, there are a small number of extinct species.
The most abundant of these is an extinct Crepidula slipper limpet. An extinct
white mussel (Donax) is known from only one site. It is expected that a few
more extinct species are still to be found, for instance, in the poorly-known,
pre-LIG shoreline deposits.

In addition to shells, scattered bones may occur in the Velddrif Formation
deposits, such as bones of whales, dolphins, seals, seabirds etc., but are
much more rare. Rescuing these bones is very important. They may not
necessarily represent species that we would expect nowadays. Also, modern
analytical techniques such as stable isotopic analyses can reveal indications
of diets and environmental conditions of the past.

4 SIGNIFICANCE

The Quaternary “raised beaches” of the Velddrif area are part of a complex of
“fossil” beaches extending northwards past Dwarskersbos, but which are most
extensively developed in the Velddrif area. Also referred to as the “Velddrif
Fossil Shell Bar”, Miller (1995) pointed out the unique nature of these
deposits, their scientific importance and the need for systematic
sedimentological and palaeontological studies. Such a programme remains to

13

be done. In the interim, some additional observations in the Velddrif area
have been made in the context of palaeontological mitigation.

Previously the Velddrif Formation was understood as comprising beach and
estuarine deposits below ~8 m asl. and understood to be of LIG age. This is
now realized to be an over-simplification, particularly in view that Quaternary
“raised beach” deposits occur in places up to ~15 m asl. along the West
Coast. These higher-lying marine terrace deposits up to ~15 m asl. farther
inland may relate to an older interglacial high sea level around 400 ka. This
prompted a broader re-definition of the Velddrif Formation and it is now
regarded as a composite formation and is explicitly more broadly defined to
include all Quaternary shoreline deposits below ~15 m asl. with a fossil shell
content of mainly modern, cold-water taxa in the open-coast facies (Pether et
al., 2000; Roberts et al., 2006). The “type section” of the Velddrif Formation is
currently at a single locality (TS, Figure 3), but in reality this “Inner Bar” site is
representative of only a part of the Velddrif Formation.

Based on the author’s own observations in the Velddrif area during
palaeontological mitigation fieldwork, there are additional complications or
inconsistencies with previous interpretations. The technical detail is not
presented here, but for instance, the possibility has arisen that the Outer Bar
and the Inner Bar are of different ages. If this is the case it is likely that the
Outer Bar is a Last Interglacial feature and that the Inner Bar is older. This
could be tested by further, more detailed observations in the area and by
taking samples for analysis by geochemical techniques (e.g. comparative
amino-acid racemization). This question has bearing on the maximum age of
coastal surfaces that were subsequently occupied by people in prehistorical
times. Certainly the value of additional exposures provided by infrastructure
installation in various developments and the need to document and sample
diligently within the window of opportunity is well illustrated here.

The general significances of coastal-plain fossils involves:
 The history of coastal-plain evolution.
 The history of past climatic changes, past biota and environments.
 Associations of fossils with buried archaeological material and human
prehistory.
 For radiometric and other dating techniques (rates of coastal change).
 Preservation of materials for the application of yet unforeseen
investigative techniques.

5 THRESHOLDS

For the evaluation of the palaeontological impact it is the extent/scale of the
deeper excavations to be made that are the main concern. For the most part,
these are the bulk earthworks associated with the installation of normal
housing infrastructure. These trenches are not expected to exceed ~1.5 m
deep. Beneath windlblown sands, redistributed marine sands and disturbed
sands, it can be expected that, in places, the shell beds of the LIG Velddrif

14

Formation will be exposed, as well as shelly beds deposited during the mid-
Holocene high 7-4 ka. Complete details are not available for all possible
earthworks. For instance, a sewerage pump station requires a deeper
excavation of ~4 m deep that will provide a more complete exposure of the
lower Velddrif Formation deposits.

6 RECOMMENDATIONS

Due to the abundance of fossil shell in the Velddrif Formation and the
Holocene lagoonal deposits the proposed palaeontological mitigation is
uncomplicated. The main recommendation is that the more complete,
undisturbed sections exposed in earthworks be inspected, documented and
sampled by a specialist. The purpose of the field work is to identify
stratigraphic contacts, depositional environments (palaeodepths) and to
identify fossil variation/assemblages and obtain representative samples
thereof.

During the excavation of the infrastructure trenches, on-site personnel must be
alert to the occurrence of fossil bones. The Environmental Control Officer
(ECO) and construction supervisor must inform staff of the need to watch for
potential fossil bone occurrences. Appendix 1 is a “Fossil Find Procedures”
guideline to be followed by on-site personnel in the event of fossil bone finds.

Buried archaeological material, such as scatters of marine shell (mussels and
limpets), pottery fragments and Stone Age Implements may occur in the Q1
covers and and on the underlying palaeosurface.

In the event of possible fossil and/or archaeological finds, the contracted
archaeologist or palaeontologist must be contacted. For possible fossil finds,
the palaeontologist will assess the information and liaise with the developer
and the ECO and a suitable response will be established.

7 IMPACT IDENTIFICATION AND ASSESSMENT

7.1 NATURE OF THE IMPACT

Construction activities (excavations) will result in a negative direct impact on
the probable fossil content of the affected subsurface. Fossils and significant
observations will be lost in the absence of management actions to mitigate
such loss. This loss of the opportunity to recover them and their contexts
when exposed at a particular site is irreversible.

Conversely, construction excavations furnish the “windows” into the coastal
plain depository that would not otherwise exist and thereby provide access to

15

the hidden fossils. The impact is positive for palaeontology, provided that
efforts are made to monitor for and rescue the fossils.

7.1.1 Extent

The physical extent of impacts on potential palaeontological resources relates
directly to the extents of subsurface disturbance, i.e. LOCAL.

7.1.2 Intensity

The construction of the proposed development will result in a negative impact.
In the absence of effective mitigation, scientifically significant material will
quite probably be destroyed or highly disturbed. It is quite likely that
scientifically valuable fossils will be lost in spite of mitigation. Notwithstanding,
the negative impact is rated MEDIUM – a major fossil find of international
significance is not usually expected nor can be predicted. Should a major
fossil occurrence be destroyed/ignored, the magnitude potentially becomes
HIGH-negative.

With successful mitigation the impact should be positive. However, mitigation
can only strive to obtain a sample or portion of the potential fossil content of
the disturbed subsurface. This positive impact is also rated as MEDIUM. If a
significant find of fossils is made, such as a large assemblage of bones or
some hominid remains, the impact may translate to HIGH –positive.

7.1.3 Duration

The impact of both the finding or the loss of fossils is permanent. The found
fossils must be preserved “for posterity”; the lost, overlooked or destroyed

fossils are lost to posterity. The duration of impact is thus LONG TERM.

7.1.4 Probability

The likelihood of impact is DEFINITE, i.e. it is likely to occur under the
circumstances.

7.1.5 Confidence

The level of confidence in the magnitudes and probability of impacts is HIGH.

16

7.2 IMPACT ASSESSMENT TABLE

Extent Intensity Duration Consequence Probability Significance Status Confidence

Without Local Medium Long Medium Definite MEDIUM -ve High

mitigation 1 2 term 6

3

Essential mitigation measures

 Identify stand-by palaeontologist
 Construction personnel to be alert for rare fossil bones and follow “Fossil Finds Procedure”.

 Appoint stand-by palaeontologist should paleontological finds be uncovered by earthworks.
 Cease construction on (chance) discovery of fossils and artefacts of paleontological importance or direct

machinery away from finds until palaeontologist is able to make a site inspection and establish the importance of
the find and make recommendations for preservation, collection or record keeping.

 Undisturbed sections exposed in earthworks be inspected, documented and sampled by appointed paleontologist.

With mitgation Local Medium Long Medium Possible LOW +ve High
1 2 term 6
3

7.2.1 Cumulative Impact

In the longer term, built developments “sterilize” the palaeontological heritage
resource potential within their extents, as the subsurface is “sealed” beneath
roads, buildings and urban gardens. This translates to a cumulative impact,
as fossiliferous coastal deposits are continuously being covered by
developments often lacking mitigation protocols.

If paleontological mitigation is applied to this project as recommended it is
possible that this development will to some extent alleviate the negative
cumulative impact on paleontological resources in the region.

7.3 BASIC MEASURES FOR THE CONSTRUCTION PHASE EMPS

OBJECTIVE: To see and rescue fossil material that may be exposed in the
excavations made for installation of the housing infrastructure.

Project components Foundation excavations, trenches for pipes and
cables, spoil from excavations.
Potential impact Loss of fossils by their being unnoticed and/ or
destroyed.
Activity/ risk source All bulk earthworks.
To facilitate the likelihood of noticing fossils and
Mitigation: target/ ensure appropriate actions in terms of the relevant
legislation.
objective

Mitigation: Action/ Responsibility Timeframe
control The Client, SRK, the Pre-construction.
Inform staff of the need ECO & contractors. Pre-construction.
to watch for potential ECO/specialist.
fossil bone occurrences. Construction.
Inform staff of the Contracted personnel
procedures to be and ECO, monitoring
followed in the event of
fossil bone occurrences.
Monitor for presence of
fossil bones

17

Liaise on nature of archaeologist. Construction.
ECO and specialist. Construction.
potential finds and ECO and specialist. Construction.
Construction
appropriate responses. Specialist.

Liaise on progress of Specialist.

earthworks and suitable

exposures for

inspection.

Excavate main finds,

inspect pits & record

and sample

excavations.

Obtain permit from

HWC for bone finds and

shell samples.

Performance Indicator Reporting of and liaison about possible fossil finds.
Fossils noticed and rescued.

8 APPLICATION FOR A PALAEONTOLOGICAL PERMIT

A permit from HWC is required to excavate fossils. The applicant should be
the qualified specialist responsible for assessment, collection and reporting
(palaeontologist).

As fossil shell samples will be collected, a permit should be applied for as
soon as construction commences. A HWC permit fee of R300 is applicable.

The application requires details of the registered owners of the sites, their
permission and a site-plan map.

All samples of fossils must be deposited at a SAHRA-approved institution, e.g.
the IZIKO S.A. Museum.

9 REPORTING

A detailed report on the fossil occurrences must be submitted. This report is
in the public domain and copies of the report must be deposited at the IZIKO
S.A. Museum, HWC and SAHRA. It must fulfil the reporting standards and
data requirements of these bodies.

18

10 REFERENCES

Chase, B.M., Thomas, D.S.G. 2007. Multiphase late Quaternary aeolian
sediment accumulation in western South Africa: timing and relationship
to palaeoclimatic changes inferred from the marine record. Quaternary
International 166: 29–41.

Coetzee, J.A. 1978. Climatic and biological changes in south-western Africa
during the late Cainozoic. Palaeoecology of Africa 10: 13-29.

Dingle, R.V. and Honigstein, A. 1994. Ostracoda from Quaternary coastal
sequences in the south-western Cape. Annals of the South African
Museum 104: 63-114.

Hendey, Q.B. 1981. Palaeoecology of the Late Tertiary fossil occurrences in
"E" Quarry, Langebaanweg, South Africa, and a re-interpretation of their
context. Annals of the South African Museum 84: 1-104.

Hendey, Q.B. and Cooke, H.B.S. 1985. Kolpochoerus paiceae (Mammmalia,
Suidae) from Skurwerug, near Saldanha, South Africa, and its
palaeoenvironmental implications. Annals of the South African Museum
97: 9-56.

Kensley, B. 1974. The status of the Plio-Pleistocene Panopea in southern
Africa (Mollusca, Bivalvia, Hiatellidae). Annals of the South African
Museum 65: 199-215.

Kensley, B. 1985a. The faunal deposits of a Late Pleistocene raised beach at
Milnerton, Cape Province, South Africa. Annals of the South African
Museum 95: 183-226.

Kensley, B. 1985b. Cementing bivalves of the genus Chlamys (‘Hinnites’) in
Southern Africa. South African Journal of Science 81 (10): 629-631.

Kilburn, R.N. and Tankard, A.J. 1975. Pleistocene molluscs from the West
and South coasts of the Cape Province, South Africa. Annals of the
South African Museum 67: 111-122.

Miller, D.E. 1995. Significance of the Velddrif Fossil Shell Bar. A Phase 1
Archaeological Assessment of the Velddrif Waste Disposal Site,
Appendix A. Archaeology Contracts Office, UCT. For SKC & Loubser,
Consulting Engineers.

Miller, D.E., Yates, R.J., Parkington, J.E. & Vogel, J.C. 1993. Radiocarbon-
dated evidence relating to a mid-Holocene relative high sea-level on the
south-western Cape coast, South Africa. South African Journal of
Science 89: 35-44.

Pether, J, Roberts, D.L. and Ward, J.D. 2000. Deposits of the West Coast
(Chapter 3). In: Partridge, T.C. and Maud, R.R. eds. The Cenozoic of
Southern Africa. Oxford Monographs on Geology and Geophysics No.
40. Oxford University Press: 33-55.

Pether, J. 2003. Palaeontological Mitigation Report, Development on Velddrif
Fossil Shell Bar. Noordhoek Phase 2, Velddrif Housing, Berg River
Municipality. Provincial Heritage Resources Authority, Western Cape
and IZIKO: South African Museum (unpubl.).

19

Pether, J. 2004. Palaeontological Mitigation Report, Coastal Marine Deposits
Dwarskersbos. Dwarskersbos Erf 276 Housing Development.
Provincial Heritage Resources Authority, Western Cape and IZIKO:
South African Museum (unpubl.).

Pether, J. 1994. The sedimentology, palaeontology and stratigraphy of
coastal-plain deposits at Hondeklip bay, Namaqualand, South Africa.
M.Sc. thesis (unpubl.), Univ. Cape Town, South Africa, 313 pp.

Roberts, D.L. and Brink, J. (2002). Dating and correlation of Neogene coastal
deposits in the Western Cape (South Africa): implications for
neotectonism. S. Afr. J. Geol., 105, 337–352.

Roberts, D.L., Bateman, M.D., Murray-Wallace, C.V., Carr, A.S. Holmes, P.J.
2009. West coast dune plumes: Climate driven contrasts in dunefield
morphogenesis along the western and southern South African coasts.
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 271: 24-38.

Roberts, D.L., Botha, G.A., Maud, R.R. & Pether, J. 2006. Coastal Cenozoic
Deposits. In: Johnson, M. R., Anhaeusser, C. R. and Thomas, R. J.
(eds.), The Geology of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa,
Johannesburg/Council for Geoscience, Pretoria. 605-628.

Rogers, J. 1980. First report on the Cenozoic sediments between Cape
Town and Eland's Bay. Geological Survey of South Africa Open File
136.

Rogers, J. 1982. Lithostratigraphy of Cenozoic sediments between Cape
Town and Eland's Bay. Palaeoecology of Africa 15: 121-137.

Rogers, J. 1983. Lithostratigraphy of Cenozoic sediments on the coastal
plain between Cape Town and Saldanha Bay. Technical Report of the
Joint Geological Survey/University of Cape Town Marine Geoscience
Unit 14: 87-103.

Rogers, J., Pether, J., Molyneux, R., Hill, R.S., Kilham, J.L.C., Cooper, G. and
Corbett, I. 1990. Cenozoic geology and mineral deposits along the west
coast of South Africa and the Sperrgebiet. Guidebook Geocongress '90
Geological Society of South Africa, PR1: 1 111.

Tankard, A.J. 1975. Thermally anomalous Late Pleistocene molluscs from
the south-western Cape Province, South Africa. Annals of the South
African Museum 69: 17-45.

Tankard, A.J. 1976. Pleistocene history and coastal morphology of the
Ysterfontein-Elands Bay area, Cape Province. Annals of the South
African Museum 69: 73-119.

Visser, H.N. & Schoch, A.E. 1972. Map Sheet 255: 3217D & 3218C (St
Helenabaai), 3317B & 3318A (Saldanhabaai). Geological Survey of
South Africa.

Visser, H.N. & Schoch, A.E. 1973. The geology and mineral resources of the
Saldanha Bay area. Memoir Geological Survey of South Africa 63: 156
pp.

Visser, H.N. & Toerien, D.K. 1971. Die geologie van die gebied tussen
Vredendal en Elandsbaai. Explanation of Sheet 254: 3118C (Doring
Bay) and 3218A (Lambert's Bay). Geological Survey of South Africa. 63
pp.

20

11 GLOSSARY

~ (tilde): Used herein as “approximately” or “about”.

Aeolian: Pertaining to the wind. Refers to erosion, transport and deposition of
sedimentary particles by wind. A rock formed by the solidification of
aeolian sediments is an aeolianite.

AIA: Archaeological Impact Assessment.

Alluvium: Sediments deposited by a river or other running water.

Archaeology: Remains resulting from human activity which are in a state of
disuse and are in or on land and which are older than 100 years,
including artefacts, human and hominid remains and artificial features
and structures.

asl.: above (mean) sea level.

Bedrock: Hard rock formations underlying much younger sedimentary
deposits.

Calcareous: sediment, sedimentary rock, or soil type which is formed from or
contains a high proportion of calcium carbonate in the form of calcite or
aragonite.

Calcrete: An indurated deposit (duricrust) mainly consisting of Ca and Mg
carbonates. The term includes both pedogenic types formed in the
near-surface soil context and non-pedogenic or groundwater calcretes
related to water tables at depth.

Clast: Fragments of pre-existing rocks, e.g. sand grains, pebbles, boulders,
produced by weathering and erosion. Clastic – composed of clasts.

Colluvium: Hillwash deposits formed by gravity transport downhill. Includes
soil creep, sheetwash, small-scale rainfall rivulets and gullying, slumping
and sliding processes that move and deposit material towards the foot of
the slopes.

Coversands: Aeolian blanket deposits of sandsheets and dunes.

Duricrust: A general term for a zone of chemical precipitation and hardening
formed at or near the surface of sedimentary bodies through pedogenic
and (or) non-pedogenic processes. It is formed by the accumulation of
soluble minerals deposited by mineral-bearing waters that move upward,
downward, or laterally by capillary action, commonly assisted in arid
settings by evaporation. Classified into calcrete, ferricrete, silcrete.

ESA: Early Stone Age. The archaeology of the Stone Age between 2 000
000 and 250 000 years ago.

EIA: Environmental Impact Assessment.

EMP: Environmental Management Plan.

Ferricrete: Indurated deposit (duricrust) consisting predominantly of
accumulations of iron sesquioxides, with various dark-brown to yellow-
brown hues. It may form by deposition from solution or as a residue

21

after removal of silica and alkalis. Like calcrete it has pedogenic and
groundwater forms. Synonyms are laterite, iron pan or “koffieklip”.

Fluvial deposits: Sedimentary deposits consisting of material transported by,
suspended in and laid down by a river or stream.

Fm.: Formation.

Fossil: Mineralised bones of animals, shellfish, plants and marine animals. A
trace fossil is the track or footprint of a fossil animal that is preserved in
stone or consolidated sediment.

Heritage: That which is inherited and forms part of the National Estate
(Historical places, objects, fossils as defined by the National Heritage
Resources Act 25 of 1999).

HIA: Heritage Impact Assessment.

LSA: Late Stone Age. The archaeology of the last 20 000 years associated
with fully modern people.

LIG: Last Interglacial. Warm period 128-118 ka BP. Relative sea-levels
higher than present by 4-6 m. Also referred to as Marine Isotope Stage
5e or “the Eemian”.

Midden: A pile of debris, normally shellfish and bone that have accumulated
as a result of human activity.

MSA: Middle Stone Age. The archaeology of the Stone Age between 20-300
000 years ago associated with early modern humans.

OSL: Optically stimulated luminescence. One of the radiation exposure
dating methods based on the measurement of trapped electronic charges
that accumulate in crystalline materials as a result of low-level natural
radioactivity from U, Th and K. In OSL dating of aeolian quartz and
feldspar sand grains, the trapped charges are zeroed by exposure to
daylight at the time of deposition. Once buried, the charges accumulate
and the total radiation exposure (total dose) received by the sample is
estimated by laboratory measurements. The level of radioactivity (annual
doses) to which the sample grains have been exposed is measured in the
field or from the separated minerals containing radioactive elements in the
sample. Ages are obtained as the ratio of total dose to annual dose,
where the annual dose is assumed to have been similar in the past.

Palaeontology: The study of any fossilised remains or fossil traces of animals
or plants which lived in the geological past and any site which contains
such fossilised remains or traces.

Palaeosol: An ancient, buried soil whose composition may reflect a climate
significantly different from the climate now prevalent in the area where
the soil is found. Burial reflects the subsequent environmental change.

Palaeosurface: An ancient land surface, usually buried and marked by a
palaeosol or pedocrete, but may be exhumed by erosion (e.g. wind
erosion/deflation) or by bulk earth works.

Peat: partially decomposed mass of semi-carbonized vegetation which has
grown under waterlogged, anaerobic conditions, usually in bogs or
swamps.

22

Pedogenesis/pedogenic: The process of turning sediment into soil by
chemical weathering and the activity of organisms (plants growing in it,
burrowing animals such as worms, the addition of humus etc.).

Pedocrete: A duricrust formed by pedogenic processes.

PIA: Palaeontological Impact Assessment.
SAHRA: South African Heritage Resources Agency – the compliance

authority, which protects national heritage.

Stone Age: The earliest technological period in human culture when tools
were made of stone, wood, bone or horn. Metal was unknown.

11.1 GEOLOGICAL TIME SCALE TERMS (YOUNGEST TO OLDEST).

ka: Thousand years or kilo-annum (103 years). Implicitly means “ka ago” i.e.
duration from the present, but “ago” is omitted. The “Present” refers to
1950 AD. Generally not used for durations not extending from the
Present. Sometimes “kyr” is used instead.

Ma: Millions years, mega-annum (106 years). Implicitly means “Ma ago” i.e.
duration from the present, but “ago” is omitted. The “Present” refers to
1950 AD. Generally not used for durations not extending from the
Present.

Holocene: The most recent geological epoch commencing 11.7 ka till the
present.

Pleistocene: Epoch from 2.6 Ma to 11.7 ka. Late Pleistocene 11.7–126 ka.
Middle Pleistocene 135–781 ka. Early Pleistocene 781–2588 ka (0.78-
2.6.Ma).

Quaternary: The current Period, from 2.6 Ma to the present, in the Cenozoic
Era. The Quaternary includes both the Pleistocene and Holocene
epochs. As used herein, early and middle Quaternary correspond with
the Pleistocene divisions, but late Quaternary includes the Late
Pleistocene and the Holocene.

23

Pliocene: Epoch from 5.3-2.6 Ma.
Miocene: Epoch from 23-5 Ma.
Oligocene: Epoch from 34-23 Ma.
Eocene: Epoch from 56-34 Ma.
Paleocene: Epoch from 65-56 Ma.
Cenozoic: Era from 65 Ma to the present. Includes Paleocene to Holocene

epochs.
Cretaceous: Period in the Mesozoic Era, 145-65 Ma.

---oooOOOooo---

24

12 APPENDIX 1 - FOSSIL FIND PROCEDURES

12.1 In the context under consideration, it is improbable that fossil finds will require
declarations of permanent “no go” zones. At most a temporary pause in
activity at a limited locale may be required. The strategy is to rescue the
material as quickly as possible.

The procedures suggested below are in general terms, to be adapted as befits
a context. They are couched in terms of finds of fossil bones that usually
occur sparsely. However, they may also serve as a guideline for other fossil
material that may occur.

In contrast, fossil shell layers are usually fairly extensive and can be easily
documented and sampled.

Bone finds can be classified as two types: isolated bone finds and bone
cluster finds.

ISOLATED BONE FINDS

In the process of digging the excavations, isolated bones may be spotted in
the hole sides or bottom, or as they appear on the spoil heap. By this is
meant bones that occur singly, in different parts of the excavation. If the
number of distinct bones exceeds 6 pieces, the finds must be treated as a
bone cluster (below).

Response by personnel in the event of isolated bone finds
 Action 1: An isolated bone exposed in an excavation or spoil heap
must be retrieved before it is covered by further spoil from the
excavation and set aside.
 Action 2: The site foreman and ECO must be informed.
 Action 3: The responsible field person (site foreman or ECO) must
take custody of the fossil. The following information to be recorded:
o Position (excavation position).
o Depth of find in hole.
o Digital image of hole showing vertical section (side).
o Digital image of fossil.
 Action 4: The fossil should be placed in a bag (e.g. a Ziplock bag),
along with any detached fragments. A label must be included with the
date of the find, position info., depth.
 Action 5: ECO to inform the developer, the developer contacts the
standby archaeologist and/or palaeontologist. ECO to describe the
occurrence and provide images asap. by email.

Response by Palaeontologist in the event of isolated bone finds
The palaeontologist will assess the information and liaise with the developer
and the ECO and a suitable response will be established.

25

12.2 BONE CLUSTER FINDS
12.3
A bone cluster is a major find of bones, i.e. several bones in close proximity or
bones resembling part of a skeleton. These bones will likely be seen in
broken sections of the sides of the hole and as bones appearing in the bottom
of the hole and on the spoil heap.

Response by personnel in the event of a bone cluster find
 Action 1: Immediately stop excavation in the vicinity of the potential
material. Mark (flag) the position and also spoil that may contain
fossils.
 Action 2: Inform the site foreman and the ECO.
 Action 3: ECO to inform the developer, the developer contacts the
standby archaeologist and/or palaeontologist. ECO to describe the
occurrence and provide images asap. by email.

Response by Palaeontologist in the event of a bone cluster find
The palaeontologist will assess the information and liaise with the developer
and the ECO and a suitable response will be established. It is likely that a
Field Assessment by the palaeontologist will be carried out asap.

It will probably be feasible to “leapfrog” the find and continue the excavation
farther along, or proceed to the next excavation, so that the work schedule is
minimally disrupted. The response time/scheduling of the Field Assessment is
to be decided in consultation with developer/owner and the environmental
consultant.

The field assessment could have the following outcomes:
 If a human burial, the appropriate authority is to be contacted (see
AIA). The find must be evaluated by a human burial specialist to
decide if Rescue Excavation is feasible, or if it is a Major Find.
 If the fossils are in an archaeological context, an archaeologist must be
contacted to evaluate the site and decide if Rescue Excavation is
feasible, or if it is a Major Find.
 If the fossils are in an palaeontological context, the palaeontologist
must evaluate the site and decide if Rescue Excavation is feasible, or if
it is a Major Find.

RESCUE EXCAVATION

Rescue Excavation refers to the removal of the material from the just the
“design” excavation. This would apply if the amount or significance of the
exposed material appears to be relatively circumscribed and it is feasible to
remove it without compromising contextual data. The time span for Rescue
Excavation should be reasonably rapid to avoid any or undue delays, e.g. 1-3
days and definitely less than 1 week.

In principle, the strategy during mitigation is to “rescue” the fossil material as
quickly as possible. The strategy to be adopted depends on the nature of the
occurrence, particularly the density of the fossils. The methods of collection
would depend on the preservation or fragility of the fossils and whether in
loose or in lithified sediment. These could include:

26

 On-site selection and sieving in the case of robust material in sand.
 Fragile material in loose/crumbly sediment would be encased in blocks

using Plaster-of Paris or reinforced mortar.

If the fossil occurrence is dense and is assessed to be a “Major Find”, then
carefully controlled excavation is required.

12.4 MAJOR FINDS

A Major Find is the occurrence of material that, by virtue of quantity,
importance and time constraints, cannot be feasibly rescued without
compromise of detailed material recovery and contextual observations.
A Major Find is not expected.

Management Options for Major Finds
In consultation with developer/owner and the environmental consultant, the
following options should be considered when deciding on how to proceed in
the event of a Major Find.

Option 1: Avoidance

Avoidance of the major find through project redesign or relocation. This
ensures minimal impact to the site and is the preferred option from a heritage
resource management perspective. When feasible, it can also be the least
expensive option from a construction perspective.

The find site will require site protection measures, such as erecting fencing or
barricades. Alternatively, the exposed finds can be stabilized and the site
refilled or capped. The latter is preferred if excavation of the find will be
delayed substantially or indefinitely. Appropriate protection measures should
be identified on a site-specific basis and in wider consultation with the heritage
and scientific communities.

This option is preferred as it will allow the later excavation of the finds with due
scientific care and diligence.

Option 2: Emergency Excavation

Emergency excavation refers to the “no option” situation wherein avoidance is
not feasible due to design, financial and time constraints. It can delay
construction and emergency excavation itself will take place under tight time
constraints, with the potential for irrevocable compromise of scientific quality.
It could involve the removal of a large, disturbed sample by excavator and
conveying this by truck from the immediate site to a suitable place for
“stockpiling”. This material could then be processed later.

Consequently, emergency excavation is not a preferred option for a Major
Find.

---oooOOOooo---

27

13 APPENDIX 2. PRELIMINARY LAYOUT

28