South African Archaeological Society

Witwatersrand CentreAuthor(s): P. V. TobiasSource: The South African Archaeological Bulletin, Vol. 9, No. 33 (Mar., 1954), p. 2Published by: South African Archaeological SocietyStable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/3886787 .

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more or less forming a Winter School. One or two overseas scientists will be present, and Professor C. van Riet Lowe will explain those Vaal River sites which he himself has helped to place in a flood of 'prehistoric limelight'. The success of this series of excursions should probably lead to others in later years.

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WITWATERSRAND CENTRE

Sites in the Vaal River Valley between Henley-on- Klip and Vereeniging were visited by fifty members of the Witwatersrand Centre of the Society on Sunday, 29 November 1953. In the morning the party visited the 'Van der Elst Donga' on the farm Bad- fontein, which was described in Vol. IV, No. 16 (Dec. 1949) of this Bulletin, by Prof. C. van Riet Lowe and the discoverer of the site, Mr. W. van der Elst. In the donga, the 22 ft. terrace of the Suikerbosrand River is well exposed and, in its gravels, members of the party found many rolled artefacts of the earliest stage of the Chelles-Acheul culture and even of the pre- hand-axe pebble cultures. Fauresmith, Middle Stone Age and Smithfield remains were found in and on higher layers in the donga. A talk was given by Prof. C. van Riet Lowe, who also examined and discussed the members' finds.

After lunch a visit was paid to the Three Rivers exposure of the 50 ft. terrace and gravels of the Vaal River, and then the party inspected the fine collection

of fossil plants and implements of Mr. S. F. le Roux, an observant and enthusiastic amateur of Vereeniging and fitting successor to the late Dr. T. N. Leslie. His latest and most important discoveries, made in quarries near Vereeniging, in Middle Ecca (Lower Permian) beds, have been of fructifications borne on Glossopteris leaves, this plant being the chief element in the Ecca coals. Members were thrilled to see the beautifully preserved fruiting and flowering bodies which the skilled hands of Mr. le Roux have laid bare in their matrix of whitish or pale buff or red clay. A short talk on his discoveries by Mr. le Roux was much appreciated by the audience.

On the return to Johannesburg, a varied and memorable day was rounded off by a visit to the stylized rock engraving in the proclaimed area at Redan.

P. V. TOBIAS Chairman.

2/12/53

NEW MEMBERS - BYGEVOEGDE LEDE

Allchin, Mrs. B., 40 Hamilton Gardens, London, N.W. 8 (Life). Anciaux de Favaeux, Dom A., Mission St. Joseph, Jadotville, Katango, Congo Belge. Dick, Dr. John, Experimental Station, Mount Edgecombe, Natal. Flint, E. G., Esq., Sunnydale, Nr. Fish Hoek. Gess, W. H. R., Esq., 34 Main Rd., Walmer, Port Elizabeth. Greeff, J. V., Esq., c/o Mr. W. Malherbe, De Waal St., Stellenbosch. Isaac, G., Esq., 16 Pillans Rd., Rosebank, Cape Town. Lanning, E. C., Esq., Mubende, Uganda. McLoughlin, Lionel A., Erica Farm, P.O. Ruigte Vlei, via Knysna, C.P. Meert E., Esq., c/o U.M.H.K., Le Marinel, Kolwezi, Katanga, Congo Belge. Neethling, Dr. P. G. S., Vredenberg, Cape Province. Pembroke, L. F., Esq., 24 Fifth St., Parkhurst, Johannesburg. Rautenbach, Mrs. G. B., Calendon Park, Box 31, Clarens, O.F.S. Rosenberg, D. L., Esq., 36 Floss St., Kensington, Johannesburg. Skea, E. M., Esq., P.O. Box 46, Pilgrims Rest, Transvaal. Theron, Adv. M. E., 4 Wale St., Cape Town. Underwood, Miss D., P.O. Box 152, Cape Town. Van der Lingen, M. T., Esq., The Towers, 103 Musgrave Rd., Durban.

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