Space and material culture: an archaeological investigation of a Mid‑19th‑Century Fort on the Eastern Frontier: the archeology of Fort Fordyce

Abstract

The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is a territory where conflict has occurred for much of its recent history. During the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, between 1779 and 1878, nine Frontier Wars took place. Research on forts and other frontier sites in the area has been limited and little is known archaeologically about the Waterkloof triangle and Fort Fordyce, which was constructed in 1852 during the Eighth Frontier War (1850 – 1853). This research investigates the spatial arrangements of Fort Fordyce and assesses the material culture recovered during excavations. Survey and mapping are key components of the research and have led to a better understanding of this little-known site around which some of the fiercest frontier fighting took place.

Iphondo leMpuma Koloni eMzantsi Afrika ngumhlaba owukhe wabanongquzulwano kwimbali yawo yakutshanje. Ngexesha lenkulungwane yeshumi elinesibhozo kunye neyeshumi elinesithoba, phakathi kowe1779 nowe1878, kwenzeka iiMfazwe ezilithoba zokukhusela umhlaba wamaXhosa (iFrontier Wars). Uphando kwiinqaba nezinye iindawo zemida yale ndawo lunqongophelo kwaye kuncinci okwaziwayo ngokwenzululwazi ngezakudala malunga nonxantathu weentaba zomMthontsi (iWaterkloof triangle) naphezu kweentaba zoMthontsi (iFort Fordyce), eyakhiwa ngowe1852 ngexesha leMfazwe kaMlanjeni (iEighth Frontier War) (1850-1853). Olu phando luphanda ngezicwangciso zendawo ephezu kweentaba zoMthontsi (iFort Fordyce) kwaye luhlola izixhobo ezafunyanwa ngexesha lokugrumba. Uphando lokuvandlakanya kunye nokubonakaliswa kolwazi ngokwe mephu zezona zinto ziphambili kolu phando kwaye zikhokelele ekuqondweni ngcono kwale ndawo eyaziwa ngokungephi apho idabi elinoburhalarhume lokukhusela umhlaba wamaXhosa lwenzeka khona.

Die Oos-Kaapprovinsie van Suid-Afrika is ’n gebied waartydens konflik vir meeste van die onlangse geskiedenis ondervind is. Tydens die agtiende en negentiende eeu, tussen 1779 en 1878, het nege grensoorloë plaasgevind. Navorsing oor forte en ander grensterreine, geleë in die gebied, is beperk en min is argeologies bekend oor die Waterkloofdriehoek en Fort Fordyce, wat tydens die Agste Grensoorlog (1850–1853) gebou is. Hierdie navorsingstudie ondersoek die ruimtelike uitleg van Fort Fordyce en bepaal die waarde van die materiële kultuur wat tydens die opgrawings herwin is. Opmeting en kartering is sleutelkomponente van die navorsing en het gelei tot n beter begrip van hierdie min-bekende terrein waarrondom van die felste grensgevegte plaasgevind het.