Histories-argeologiese ondersoek na die militêre fortifikasies van Pretoria (1880-1902)

Abstract

Die toestand van verval waarin die militere fortifikasies van Pretoria verkeer, wek kommer. Die min dokumentere inligting wat daaroor beskikbaar is, noodsaak spoedige optrede om dit wat behoue gebly het te dokumenteer. Hierdie studie is 'n eerste poging om soveel historiese inligting moontlik oor die fortifikasies te boekstaaf. ldentifisering van die terreine waar die fortifikasies voorgekom het, het die hoogste prioriteit geniet. 'n Beskrywing van elkeen word ook gegee met die oog op historiesargeologiese navorsing wat hieruit mag voortspruit. Besondere aandag word aan Fort Daspoortrand (Wesfort) gegee, omdat dit so 'n unieke en interessante fortifikasie is. 'n Nadere argeologiese ondersoek is op die terrein van hierdie unieke argitektoniese meesterwerk geloods, ten einde 'n grondplan daarvan te teken. Omdat hierdie studie die eerste fase van 'n histories-argeologiese streeksopname is, sal 'n verskeidenheid navorsingsmoontlikhede hieruit kan voortvloei. ENGLISH : The present state of decay of the military fortifications of Pretoria is a cause of great concern. Consequently the remains of the fortifications should be urgently recorded. This study is a first effort to document as much as possible of the historical information relating to the fortifications. The highest priority was given to identifying the sites of each fortification. They are also described with a view to possible further historical-archaelogical research which may emerge from this study. Particular attention was given to Fort Daspoortrand (West Fort) as it is such a unique and interesting fortification. A closer archaeological investigation was done on the site of this unique architectural masterpiece, with the aim of drawing up a plan of the fort. As this study is the first phase of a regional historical-archaeological study, a variety of possibilities for research could emerge from it. Copyright