Heritage Cases

The Bolubedu Solar Park entails the construction, operation and maintenance of a Photovoltaic (PV) Power Plant with associated infrastructure having a generation capacity up to 75 MW over a footprint of 210 ha on the remainder of the Farm Kromrivierfontein 360 LT and the remainder of the Farm Worcester 200 LT in the Greater Letaba Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo Province. As part of the project Enviromental Impact Assessment (EIA), the Heritage Unit of Exigo Sustainability conducted a Phase 1 Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) of the proposed development area (see Kruger, N. 2016. Archaeological Impact Assessment (AIA) of areas demarcated for a proposed Photovoltaic (PV) Power Plant on the remainder of the Farm Kromrivierfontein 360 LT and the remainder of the Farm Worcester 200 LT in the Greater Letaba Local Municipality, Mopani District Municipality, Limpopo Province) SAHRA Case 9925. This study identified the remains of Iron Age Farmer Period stone wall structures and specifically grain bin stands (EXIGO-BSP-IA03), a surface and probable subsurface occurrence of decorated and undecorated Iron Age farmer period ceramics (EXIGO-BSP-IA04), the remains of a probable Iron Age / early Historical Period occupation site (EXIGO-BSP-IA05) as well as a further occurrence of grain bin stands (EXIGO-BSP-IA06) within the project area. A Phase 2 Specialist Study was recommended for these sites in order to record all physical and cultural features and remains and this recommendation was subsequently supported by the South African Heritage Resources Authority (SAHRA). Application is made for the controlled surface collection and archaeological excavation of subsurface artefacts at the Iron Age settlement remains (Site EXIGO-BSP-IA03 – Site EXIGO-BSP-IA06) on remainder of the Farm Kromrivierfontein 360 LT and the remainder of the Farm Worcester 200 LT.