28/10/2021
Press release
Research results excavation at Sayers Lane soon to be published
Research on the human remains that were excavated at Sayers Lane in 2019 is ending. A combination of archaeological research and bio-archaeological analyses in the lab has brought forth a provenance consistent with VOC personnel. Plans are made to arrange a reburial soon. The final report, which will contain more detailed information about the archaeological research, will soon be published and uploaded to the SAHRA website.\
Development of erf 4995 (also known as Sayers Lane) began in 2018. Trenches were excavated for new structures. The surprise at the time was the discovery of some human bone protruding from the side wall of one of the trenches. ACO Associates (ACO) consulting archaeologists was called in by the property developer to confirm the finds.
History of the site
The project area previously contained a complex of 19th century cottages which were demolished in the 1970’s and the inhabitants were evicted under the apartheid laws of the time. These cottages, dating to the 1830’s, were built over the graves which revealed that the human remains were quite old. During exploratory excavations in the earlier stages it was found that there were human remains in every test pit. These remains were further left undisturbed, only their presence noted. The historic records provided no indication of a cemetery at all. In 2019, the full permit was granted and complete excavation commenced.
Collaboration South-African and Dutch experts
The site contained many skeletons buried on their backs in rows. They were all adults, which is in itself remarkable, and some seem to have died because of very bad injuries or disease. Historic records showed that an old VOC hospital built for ships’ crews and used between 1765 and the early 1800s, lay only about 150 m to the southeast where the Navy barracks are today. The hypothesis rose that the cemetery was intended for ships’ crews. Since a link with the VOC appeared, ACO contacted the Dutch embassy and the Cultural Heritage Agency of the Netherlands to help extend the search for the origins. In response, two osteo-archaeologists (bone specialists) were sent to assist in the field in order to see what information could be recovered about the deceased.
Further analysis of the remains
It proved difficult to obtain all the desirable knowledge from the remains, as the bones were very soft and in poor condition; only tooth samples could be used for analysis. Specific expertise was required, so analysis was funded by the Cultural Heritage Agency and done in the Netherlands at the Laboratory for Human Osteoarchaeology of the University of Leiden, at the Earth Science Stable Isotope Laboratory of the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam and at the Centre for Isotope Research of the University of Groningen. Due to the poor preservation of the organic component of bone, not all tests could be completed successfully. However, the analysis of stable isotopes stored within teeth proved most successful. Using comparative data, these isotopes can inform of geological patterns that can help narrow down potential geographical regions of origin. The analysis was prolonged as COVID-19 was creating problems in all areas.
The results of the extensive analysis turned out to be fascinating as the findings indicate that the people buried at Sayers Lane were possibly from Western Europe, along with a few from the Indian archipelago. Since VOC ship crews consisted of a variety of people of both Dutch and other origins, many got ill or injured at sea and were put in the local hospital to try to heal them.
Maritime heritage, the reburial of the remains
The site is considered as significant heritage as these kinds of unique maritime burial grounds are scarce all over the world. To the knowledge of the experts involved this is the only one of its kind identified in South Africa. It gives us a glimpse of the hardship suffered at sea. With the results and the knowledge that can be derived from the research, there are opportunities to celebrate the lives of these unknown souls, a few of thousands who died at sea many vast distances from their families. In all, the remains of 165 people were found which were carefully collected. The process will now take place to rebury them locally and pay respect to their hardship-ridden lives.
