Cape Town - The Blombos Cave in the Southern Cape, which contains archaeological artefacts from the Middle Stone Age, and the Elandsfontein fossil dune site on the West Coast, have been declared provincial heritage sites.
Cultural Affairs and Sport MEC Anroux Marais said the sites reflected the province’s heritage and needed to be preserved and protected.
“Both these heritage sites contain important evidence of life from previous years and with their declaration as provincial heritage sites, we are ensuring that they will still be preserved for years to come,” Marais said.
The MEC added that Blombos Cave in the Blombosfontein Nature Reserve was a particularly important site, because it contained archaeological evidence from the Middle Stone Age and bore testimony to a cultural tradition which had disappeared.
“Due to the high levels of sensitivity, and their location on private property, the sites are not open to the public. However, in the future, once Heritage Western Cape has developed and finalised the conservation management plans for the sites, there would be the possibility that they might be visited on an appointment basis,” she added.
Praising work by Heritage Western Cape, Marais said the team had played an important role in ensuring that these sites would be kept safe for future generations.
“It is of great importance that we continue to preserve our province’s natural history, so that it can be used as teaching tools for the generations to come.”
Cape Argus