GC7X8N4 Dolos out of place (Traditional Cache) in Mpumalanga, South Africa created by Redshift3

This cache has been archived.

Knagur Green: Due to no response from the CO after the request to maintain or replace the cache, I am archiving it to, stop it showing on the listings and/or to create place for the geocaching community.

The Geocache Maintenance guideline explains a CO's responsibility towards checking and maintaining the cache when problems are reported.

Please note that if geocaches are archived by a reviewer or Geocaching HQ for lack of maintenance, they are not eligible for unarchival. This is explained in the Help Center

If the CO feels that this cache has been archived in error please feel free to contact me within 30 days, via email or message via my profile ,quoting the GC number concerned

Thank you for understanding

Knagur Green
Groundspeak Volunteer Reviewer

GC7X8N4 ▼

A cache by Redshift3 Message this owner

Hidden : 9/4/2018

Difficulty:

Terrain:

Size: Size: micro (micro)

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Geocache Description:

Dolos
This an easy roadside cache on a small farm road off the N17, with ample space to turn and park safely. You cannot get close to the actual Dolos so there is no need for you to cross the farm fence to reach the cache. The Dolos is more than visible from the cache site. Please bring your own pen. Take care not to tighten the caps of the cache container to tight.

Please note that this looks like a replica of an actual Dolos, and I have no idea why its placed here.

A dolos (plural: dolosse) is a reinforced concrete block in a complex geometric shape weighing up to 80 tonnes (88 short tons), used in great numbers as a form of coastal management to build revetments for protection against the erosive force of waves from a body of water .The dolos was invented in 1963 by South African harbour draughtsman, Aubrey Kruger, and were first deployed in 1964 on the breakwater of East London, a South African port city.

Origin of name dolos
The name is derived from the Afrikaans word dolos- plural dolosse. This word has two given derivations. Rosenthal (1961) states it to be a contraction of 'dobbel osse', or 'gambling' (Afrikaans) 'bones' (from Latin). Boshof and Nienaber state it to be a contraction of 'dollen os', or 'play' (old Dutch) 'oxen' (Afrikaans). The first is a meaning-shifted reference to ox knuckle-joint bones used in divination practices by sangomas, Southern African traditional healers. They somewhat resemble these bones. The second is a reference to ox or lamb knuckle bones used by African children at play.

Credit for invention
The design of the dolos is usually credited to the South African Eric Mowbray Merrifield, one-time East London Harbour Engineer (from 1961–1976). In the late 1990s the claim of Aubrey Kruger gained more prominence. Kruger's claim is that he and Merrifield had considered the shape of concrete blocks to be used to protect East London's extensive breakwaters for the City's non-natural harbour, following a major storm in 1963. Merrifield wished to design a block that did not break up or shift when struck by the sea; that was cheap; and that did not require precise placement. He said in later years that he wanted a block designed in such a way that it could be "sprinkled like children's jacks". Kruger stated that he went home for lunch, cut three sections from a broomstick, and fastened them with nails into an H-shape with one leg turned through 90 degrees to create the distinctive dolos shape. Merrifield was intrigued by the object and had Kruger draw a plan. Kruger never formally received credit for the invention. Merrifield won the Shell Design Award and the Associated Science and Technology Societies of South Africa's Gold Medal. The death of Merrifield (in 1982) has put this controversy beyond proof either way. Aubrey Kruger died in East London on 19 July 2016.

Additional Hints (Decrypt)

Znva srapr fhccbeg, zntargvp

Decryption Key

A|B|C|D|E|F|G|H|I|J|K|L|M
-------------------------
N|O|P|Q|R|S|T|U|V|W|X|Y|Z

(letter above equals below, and vice versa)