Pre-colonial settlement and subsistence along sandy shores south of Elands Bay, west coast, South Africa

Jerardino, Antoniet

Pre-colonial settlement and subsistence along sandy shores south of Elands Bay, west coast, South Africa

Journal Article

2003

Journal Title

South African Archaeological Bulletin

Link to Journal

http://www.archaeologysa.co.za/saab

Publisher

South African Archaeological Society

Publisher

University of Cape Town

Department

Department of Archaeology

Faculty

Faculty of Science

Abstract

The archaeological record of shell middens along parts of the west coast of South Africa is most abundant near rocky shores whereas human occupation of sandy shores in the past was rarely attempted Unusually, an 18 km long stretch of continuous sandy coastline and adjacent dune cordon south of Elands Bay was settled repeatedly over the last 3000 years. Initial surveys and later sampling of a small number of the recorded sites along this dune cordon were undertaken to identify one or more variables that attracted people to visit sandy shores. The availability of water and resources such as fat-yielding marine mammals and ready access to terrestrial resources would have made this stretch of sandy coastline an attractive locality for people to visit repeatedly in the precolonial past. The presence of such a combination of factors is presented as a working hypothesis not only to explain the different use of sandy and rocky shores along the west coast of southern Africa but also to explain why some beaches were visited more than others. This hypothesis can be tested by further research in the study area and comparison with existing and new observations from other sandy shores.