The Rescue Excavation and Analysis of Human Remains from Hoekfontein, North West Province, South Africa

Nine human graves were inadvertently discovered during construction work near the town of Brits. North West Province. The location and associated archaeological deposits suggested a Sotho-Tswana origin for the graves. Radiocarbon dating suggests that two or more different Late Iron Age periods may be involved although the dates could possibly indicate continuous habitation. A rescue excavation of the graves was conducted and the remains analyzed. Of the nine excavated individuals, four were adults and five juveniles. All the adults except one were assessed to have been female. The presence of cribra orbitalia and enamel hypoplasia indicates some form of stress. Two main burial styles were noted, namely sitting and horizontally flexed. It is not certain whether these reflect social status, age of the deceased or different periods. The remains were reburied on 24 September 2002.