In memorium. Professor Hannes Eloff 1918-2007

Abstract

In Memorium of Professor Hannes Eloff,1918-2007 Founder of Archaeology at the University of Pretoria, an obituary written by Professor Andrie Meyer a former Head of the Department of Archaeology and student.`These stone walls, potsherds and other relics from the past that are now lying so quietly before us are the remains of a once living and thriving community with a respected king or queen, now long gone and forgotten; people to be understood and appreciated and their heritage to be cherished and preserved by us who came later’. This is the message with which Prof. Hannes Eloff used to introduce his students to the ancient settlement of Mapungubwe. Locked up in these words of wisdom is a lifetime of passion, experience and study that originated in his childhood, and that in time guided many a student at the University of Pretoria towards a career in archaeological research and cultural heritage conservation.