Charge:  Members R80     Non-members R130
Bring:     Boots, hats, tick repellent, picnic lunch. We regret no children under 12 because of walking with two armed rangers

Booking essential: Numbers are limited     Phone Anita Arnott at 011 795-4056 

Directions:  Distance from Johannesburg about 200 km (2,5 hours drive). The best route is along the Lanseria road to Hartbeespoort Dam. Turn onto the new N4 to Rustenburg. Take the Pilanesberg off-ramp. Travel towards Sun City (73 km) and turn right at the Mogwase/Manyane Gate turnoff just before Sun City. At the 4-way stop at the Caltex Garage turn left and left again into Manyane Main Gate. We meet at the entrance to the park at Manyane Gate (also known as Bosele). For those who would prefer to extend their stay, accommodation is available at Pilanesberg, neighboring Sun City or Bakubung Bush Lodge.
 
The Pilanesberg is the remnant of a huge volcano dating from 1250 million years. The rock types are very unusual as they represent an alkaline suite rather than the more normal acid suite of rocks. At some stage a dyke of rock, rich in uranium and thorium, was produced. In some places this is very radioactive. The topography of Pilanesberg differs markedly from that of the surrounding plains of the Bushveld Complex. In contrast with other stonewalled megasites of North West Province, the Iron Age farmers of Pilanesberg arranged the internal layout and position of their settlements in a unique way. We will compare the varied characteristics of a pre-stonewall settlement (Early Moloko: Icon) and a post-stonewall (Late Moloko) settlement with reference to position, layout, significance of specific features and level of preservation. After lunch we will visit a male initiation site, which features preserved phiri (stone cairns). Finally, the relationship of the radioactivity to the Iron Age homesteads raises some interesting points with respect to possible genetic damage. As this is a game reserve, we will be accompanied by two armed rangers.

Francois Coetzee is a researcher and lecturer in the Department of Archaeology at UNISA and is also Curator of the Museum of Anthropology and Archaeology at UNISA. He is studying Iron Age settlements in Pilanesberg for his MA degree. Graham Reeks is a retired mechanical engineer who decided to study another subject and graduated from UNISA with BA, BA honours and MA degrees in archaeology and history. He is now busy as a PhD archaeology candidate at Wits. Graham is the immediate past chairman of the Trans-Vaal branch.