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HISTORICAL WRECKS & UNDERWATER CULTURAL HERITAGE
SOUTH AFRICA’S MARITIME HERITAGE The modern history of South Africa is closely bound up with the economic and colonial expansion of Europe into the rest of the world after the 15th century. Straddling what was, until the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869, the most viable sea route between Europe and the markets and colonies of the East, the southern tip of Africa was pivotal to global politics, trade and economy. Since Portuguese explorers rounded the southern tip of Africa more than 500 years ago in their quest for a sea-route to the East, thousands of ships of many nationalities have circumnavigated our rugged and extensive coastline. For a variety of reasons - both human and natural - shipping casualties on the South African coast were frequent. Archival research has already identified more than 2700 vessels known to have been lost around our coast since 1500, and indications are that further research will increase the number of known maritime casualties in our waters to nearer 3000. These wrecks include vessels from 37 different nations, and can provide a wealth of information about the Portuguese explorers, the Dutch, English and French East India Companies, the British Royal Navy, 19th century passenger and mail shipping services and World War I and II shipping. Of local interest are the coasting vessels associated with fishing, whaling, mining, agriculture and other growing needs in South Africa, particularly during the last century. An aspect of our underwater heritage that must still be investigated is the potential that vessels of an Indian Ocean origin may be represented amongst the wrecks on our shores. It seems unlikely that the Arab trading vessels encountered by the Portuguese as far south as Maputo on the east African coast, had not sailed the KwaZulu-Natal and possibly the Eastern Cape coasts. If so, the chances are good that some of these vessels could well have been lost along these coasts, both before, and subsequent to the arrival of the Europeans, and the discovery of such a wreck would have a significant impact on the interpretation of South African maritime history. Historical shipwrecks represent an important source of archaeological and historical information. They have often been likened to time capsules because, when wrecked, everything on board these floating communities was often preserved together in one place, and can be accurately dated to no later than the date of the wreck. Details about how vessels were built, the daily lives of the crew and passengers, cargo composition and stowage, navigation instruments, crockery, tools, clothing and even foods and medicines used aboard the ships can provide new historical insights. What’s more, the anaerobic, or low oxygen, underwater environment means that material - particularly organic remains - not preserved on other archaeological sites can be found on shipwrecks.
John Gribble, Maritime Archaeologist South Africa’s historical shipwrecks therefore represent a fragile, non-renewable resource that is of immense national and international archaeological and cultural significance, and which must be carefully managed to ensure its long term survival.
WRECKS AND THE NATIONAL HERITAGE RESOURCES ACT To ensure the conservation and protection of this valuable cultural resource, the National Heritage Resources Act has introduced strong legal protection for underwater heritage and historical wrecks in South African waters. The most important change is in the status of historical wrecks under the Act, which in terms of Section 2 (ii), defines wrecks as part of what is considered by the Act to be “archaeological”. This means that historical wrecks have now had their status as archaeological sites legally confirmed, and must therefore be managed by SAHRA in future in a manner consistent with this status. The Act provides blanket protection for any wreck, or wreck material over 60 years of age. According to Section 35 (4) no person may, without a permit issued by SAHRA “destroy, damage, excavate, alter, deface, or otherwise disturb” any wreck or wreck site. It is also an offence to own and collect such material, and no one may “trade in, [or] sell for private gain” any such wreck material. Persons found guilty of the above offences can face a fine and/or imprisonment. The legislation aims to ensure that shipwrecks are properly managed, that any investigations take place according to acceptable archaeological principles and standards, that a proper record of underwater recovery operations are maintained, and that artefact collections are catalogued, conserved and exhibited. The mission of SAHRA's maritime archaeologist is to ensure that the shipwrecks are conserved for the educational and cultural enrichment of all interest groups in South Africa, and that historical information extracted from shipwrecks is available to both researchers and the general public. SAHRA’S “NOTICE TO DIVERS”It is a sad fact that many of the accessible and frequently dived wrecks around our coast have, and continue to be seriously damaged by the divers that visit them. While some of this damage is the result of activities like anchoring directly into the site, the vast majority is the result of divers looting sites for souvenirs. Both are indicative of a lack of understanding of the importance, fragility and non-renewable nature of underwater cultural heritage. Despite the fact that historical wrecks have enjoyed legal protection as archaeological sites in South Africa since 1986 there remains a belief amongst some divers that wrecks are a sort of underwater scratch patch, and that anything found there is free for the taking. This type of attitude and activity greatly damage the archaeological potential of these sites, as well as compromising the enjoyment by fellow and future divers of many of our wonderful wrecks. To counter this lack of awareness, the South African Heritage Resources Agency has produced a “Notice to Divers” sign and poster, which outlines the legal position of wrecks. Signboards have been deployed at harbours and slipways along the entire coast, and the posters are being distributed as widely as possible. SAHRA believes that once South African divers are made aware of the legal status and archaeological importance of wrecks they will apply the same high standards of conservation to our common underwater cultural heritage as they generally apply to the underwater natural environment. A3 size posters of the “Notice” are available at no charge from SAHRA, and can be obtained by contacting SAHRA’s maritime archaeologist. Arrangements can also be made to deploy one of the signs if required.
“Notice
to Divers” sign, Houtbay, Cape Town PERMIT APPLICATIONS SAHRA wreck permits are issued to archaeologists and other members of the public with associated archaeological guidelines for the investigation of historical wrecks and the recovery of materials from them. Permit applications can be obtained from the Maritime Archaeologist at SAHRA’s Head Office in Cape Town (SAHRA Forms 303 and 403). Anyone may apply for a permit, although the decision by SAHRA as to whether to grant one or not is based on a careful consideration of the merits of the proposed project. Permits carry strict conditions relating to excavation and recording standards, and are only issued for projects that can demonstrate a strong research component, and a clear commitment to archaeological practice. Before applying for a permit, applicants are required to have conducted historical research into the vessel in question, and must be able to provide accurate information to identify the wreck site. A full and strong motivation for the project must accompany the application, and should include reasons for the need to conduct the work, the research questions being posed, the proposed strategy to investigate the site, including the recording and excavation techniques to be used, and plans for the conservation and storage of recovered materials. Every project must have the written backing of a suitable collaborating museum which can provide historical and research information, archaeological advice and guidance, and the expertise and facilities to conserve the artefacts recovered. The museum will act as the repository for the material recovered upon completion of the project. Any project involving a shipwreck older than 1850 must include an archaeologist on the project team. In all cases, the permit holder is expected to work closely with the collaborating museum, the project archaeologist and SAHRA in carrying out the project, the selection of suitable excavation and site documentation methods, and the preparation of annual progress reports and a final report. Other government departments must be consulted in planning a wreck project. The Department of Labour regulations concerning the diving and occupational health and safety requirements for working underwater must be met. The Customs and Excise Section of the South African Revenue Services must be consulted concerning the customs dues payable on recovered material, and to obtain a Customs and Excise Wreck Licence, the production of which is another requirement for SAHRA to consider a permit application. MARITIME ARCHAEOLOGY AT SAHRA Apart from administering the legislative protection of historical shipwrecks in South Africa, the South African Heritage Resources Agency maintains a database of historical wrecks in South African waters, which currently lists more than 2700 shipping casualties in South African waters since 1500. The information in the database is drawn largely from archival and literature sources, and is constantly updated as further data comes to hand. The database is available to the public for reference purposes, and SAHRA’s maritime archaeologist can be contacted in this regard. Amongst the other duties of the maritime archaeologist at SAHRA are diving inspections of sites for which permits have been issued, and a programme of underwater surveys to locate, map and record other historical wrecks. Perhaps the most important aspect of the maritime archaeologists’ work though is the raising of public awareness about the importance of our historical shipwreck resource. In 1993 the then National Monuments Council was instrumental in establishing an affiliation with the Nautical Archaeology Society (NAS) in England, and has run regular archaeological training courses for interested divers and non-divers ever since. These courses are presented as and when required, anywhere in the country, and are run in collaboration with the South African Maritime Museum, under the auspices of the Maritime Archaeology Society of South Africa (MASSA), which was formed to foster an appreciation of our underwater heritage. For further information about these courses, contact SAHRA’s maritime archaeologist.
Click on image to download leaflet Click on image to download poster SAHRA has recently produced the first of a series of pamphlets relating to underwater heritage. Titled “Diving SA’s Wrecks” the pamphlet outlines the legal status of wrecks, and provides information for divers who wish to visit wreck sites. Copies of the pamphlet are available from SAHRA’s maritime archaeologist, or may be downloaded from this site. FURTHER INFORMATION
The maritime archaeologist at SAHRA can be contacted at: Other useful addresses are:
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