'n Argeologiese ondersoek van historiese nedersettingspatrone in die westelike Overberg

Abstract

AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Hierdie tesis is n studie van landelike nedersettings in die westelike Overberg in die laat agtiende eeu en in die neentiende eeu. Historiese bronne en argeologiese opnames dra by tot die data rakende die ontwikkeling en organisasie van 18 plaaswerwe wat bestudeer is. Twee tipes nedersettings (werwe) word identifiseer naamlik eenvoudige (lae status) veeposstelsels en meer komplekse gemengde boerdery werwe. Die geskiedenis van grensuitbreiding en die sigbaarheid daarvan in die westelike Overberg toon n duidelike verkleining in skaal van strukture en 'n afskaling van stutussimbole in vergelyking met die Boland. Daar is tot die slotsom gekom dat die studie van stoflike kultuur in die westelike Overberg n belangrike onderdeel verteenwoordig van interpretasies van die nedersettingsgeskiedenis in die streek. Aanbevelings word gemaak ten opsigte van die bewaring van bogenoemde nedersettings.

ENGLISH ABSTRACT: This thesis is a study of rural settlement in the western Overberg in the late eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. Historical documents and archaeological surveys contribute data on the development and organization of a sample of 18 farmyards. Two types of farmyards are distinguished; simple ones associated with stock keeping and more complex ones associated with mixed farming. The frontier status of the western Overberg relative to the Boland region is evident in the smaller scale of the buildings and the reduced emphasis on features symbolizing status. It is concluded that the study of the material remains of cultural significance preserved in the landscape is an essential part of understanding the settlement history of an area like the western Overberg. Recommendations are made for the future conservation of such remains.