Archaeology 101 - by the pooks and Harriet
(Geocaching input by the pooks, archaelogical input by
Harriet)
Archaeologists use many different techniques to assist them in
finding out more about their subject... (add
some blurb here Harriet)
Harriet writes
"As a young student being
introduced to archaeological fieldwork and artifacts for the first
time, I was intrigued by two things: ostrich eggshell beads
(preferably those that broke halfway through the manufacturing
process) and clay tobacco pipes. I had been collecting pieces of
ceramics since I was very little (driving my mother insane with
handfuls of 'bits' in jean pockets. And for the record, the shards
washed very well in the Defy Automaid!) so I wasn't so intrigued by
those, although, for the historical archaeologist, they are our
'stock in trade' as far as the dating of deposits are
concerned.
Archaeologists, whether they work on Stone Age sites, or historical
sites, study the things people leave behind; the rubbish, the
broken and the lost. And like the pieces of a puzzle, these bits
and pieces build a picture of everyday life. And unlike the pretty
picture on the cover of the puzzle box, the archaeological picture
can be harsh in its reality.
In this geocache, we are going to introduce you to the site of
Paradise, in Newlands Forest. The ruins of the dwelling house and
it's outbuildings are still visible. Please investigate with your
eyes only, and resist the urge to go treasure hunting. We have put
some finds out for you to find so you can satisfy your inner
Indiana Jones.
Although much simplified, you will be using the same techniques of
dating and refitting which archaeologists use when analyzing
artifacts. The historical information collated by the UCT
Archaeological Field School (1980-1989) has been included. It
illustrates the divide between the recorded, written records and
the reality of the ground."
We recommend you take along a small flat surface (A4 would be
adequate) as an aid (you will find out why)
GPS reception is not good, so search a little wider if
necessary. Future finders can give me their coordinates and I can
adjust the listing accordingly.
Part 1: Proceed to the listed coordinates (WA) to find a
container and collect the information ABCD & EFGH
Part 2: Then go to Location 2 (WB S33 58.597 E1826.430). For a
pleasant circular route go right at the bench (WE S33 58.457 E18
26.521) and shortly afterwards take the left fork (WF S33 58.471
E18 26.521)
A camera lucida sketch of
Paradise done 1834 - 1838
This site was the subject of archaeological excavations
conducted by the UCT Department of Archaeology's Field School
between 1980 and 1989. The information below is mostly from this
report.
"Already in 1657, only two years after the refreshment station
was founded, it was necessary to start looking for fresh wood
supplies on the other side of Table Mountain. In 1657 a man named
Leenderts Cornelis asked the VOC if he could use the land at het
paradijs and in exchange he would deliver timber to the VOC at
no extra charge. In 1659 Cornelis built a wooden house at paradise.
He got involved in a skirmish with the local Khoikhoi and three
years later was sent back to Batavia as punishment for drunken and
rowdy behaviour.
By 1714 the wood resource at the Cape was so depleted that the
governor issued a proclamation for stronger controls regarding the
use and chopping of wood. The master woodcutter and a handful of
sawyers and soldiers were sent to the newly established outpost at
Paradise. They not only had to patrol the forest for illegal
woodcutting, but they also had to catch runaway slaves and bandits
who hid in the dense forest!"
Main House: I-plan
The evidence for the oldest occupation of Paradise is found
underneath an I-shaped section of the main house. Bone fragments,
bits of broken porcelain and stoneware as well as clay pipes were
found. The age of the clay pipes and dated ceramics suggests that
the evidence was left by the first handful of soldiers who were
sent to Paradise in 1714.
Analysis of datable ceramics and clay pipes suggests that
Outbuilding 1 and the I-shaped house were both built between 1735
and 1750. The food remains suggest that the good fleshy cuts of
meat were being eaten by the people who lived in the I-shaped
house, while the people living in the outbuilding were getting the
tougher stewing cuts, as well as the heads. The woodcutters
received a stipend and some rations from the company, but it seems
the average woodcutter often went hungry. In 1739 a court inquest
held against a group of woodcutters from 't Paradijs showed that
they resorted to stealing vegetables from neighbouring farms.
Throughout the archaelogical record it seems that the people living
in outbuilding 1 were getting the hand-downs from the main house.
The ceramics also show the difference in status between the two
groups.
Main House: T-plan
Some time during 1750 to 1770 the I-shaped house was demolished
down to the foundations and a much smarter T-plan house was built
in its place. At the same time Salomon Bosch became the master
woodcutter at Paradise. Bosch came to Paradise with his first wife
Elizabeth de Nys, with whom he had five children. After her death
he married Gezina Martens and fathered a further two children
before his own death in 1768. His household inventory lists a large
number of porcelain plates and dishes on display in the voorhuis as
well as many of his personal possessions decorated with silver and
golden trimmings.
Main House: H-plan
When Salomon Bosch died, his widow Gesina Martens married Johan
Christoffel Gottlieb and during this time and extra room and stable
were added to the back wing of the main house. One must remember
that the outpost was far away from the castle and that people
tended to be rather self-sufficient.
Towards the end of the 18th century the VOC started experiencing
financial difficulties. By 1790 the outpost had been almost closed
down. In 1797 Lady Anne Barnard and her husband Andrew Barnard
moved to paradise. They used paradise as a rural retreat where they
could get away from the hustle and bustle of life at the
castle.
"Before the House which was raised a few steps from the court
there was a row of Orange Trees, loaded with fruit both ripe and
green which shadowed the windows. A Garden well stocked with fruit
trees of every description was behind the house, thro' which a
nasty stream of water descended from the mountain, and to the left
there was a romping Grove of fir trees whose stems agitated by the
slightest breeze of winds knocked their heads together like angry
bollocks in a most ludicrous manner" [From The Cape Journals of
Lady Anne Barnard. Edited by AM Lewin Robinson. 1994 Second series
No. 24. Van Riebeeck Society, Cape Town]
A modern reconstruction of Paradise at
Newlands
Go to the main house. How many rooms in the wing at the back.
Answer = J
Go to the sign in front of the pit. (this sign erroneously
implies that you are looking at Outbuilding One which is in fact in
the forest just behind the structure in front of you - this
structure is referred to as a "stone-lined pit of unknown purpose"
by the archaeologists who conducted this excavation). What is the
1st letter of the sixth word of the third sentence (A=1, B=2 etc)
Answer = K
Go to the sign at outbuilding two. How many LARGE poplar trees
are there within the walls of outbuilding two - in a clump towards
the right of the sign. Answer = L
(ps - these questions are rather unscientific and uninspiring,
but the idea was that you visit this site and spend a little time
here as it happens to be the inspiration for this cache!)
Part3: Now proceed to S33 58.CGL E18 26.JKG and search for
another container to obtain the solution to the final. The GPS
reception is bad and I'm afraid the coords might be out, so please
take the spoiler picture along with you to assist in identifying
the spot. There is a tree that has roots growing over a rock that
looked to me like two fingers holding a cricket ball which is
within six meters of the spot.
The puzzle is to be completed on-site. However, more background
information may be obtained after you have completed the cache via
the geochecker below (still to be added)
Have fun