Ostrich Egg-Shell Flasks and Soapstone Objects from the Gordonia District, North-Western Cape

Abstract

In the archaeological collection of the South African Museum in Cape Town there are some interesting objects donated in 1956 by Senator A. S. Brink of Keimoes in the north-western Cape. All the objects come from sites along the Orange River in the Gordonia district. Most of them were found about 1934 on the former farm Grootdrink, between Upington and Prieska, during the construction of an irrigation canal from the Boegoeberg Dam through a sand-dune area on the southern bank of the river. Flooding the canal caused the sand to be washed into the river and at the same time opened up some old graves at a depth of between 3,5 and 5,5 m. The skeletons were found in a squatting position with the arms folded in front of the legs, but they disintegrated when removed. With them were found several ostrich egg-shell flasks (one filled with powdered specularite iron), egg-shell beads, bored stones (one of them heart-shaped), pots and other objects. Some of these objects were given to Senator Brink. The land is now cultivated in smallholdings and there are no traces of the original sand-dune area or of any cultural material. Originally there was said to have been a Korana settlement at this place. The pottery will be described by the author in another report now under preparation.