An archaeological exhibition about the early history of Stellenbosch opened at the Faculty of Theology at Stellenbosch University (SU) on Tuesday (23 February 2016). The exhibition contains mostly cultural artefacts that tell an interesting story about the town and its people during the 17th, 18th and 19th century. Some pieces date from the Stone Age.
Among the artefacts, which have been unearthed at the Faculty over six excavation periods since 1972, are chinaware, rice bowls, bottles, small beer glasses, smoke pipes, fishplates, and chamber pots. Some of the pieces even show that back then people were already making potjiekos (a stew prepared outdoors).
Mr Hennie Vos, town archaeologists, said many of these artefacts originate from East Asia and illustrate how eastern and western cultures met in Cape Town.
Prof Matilda Burden, Curator of the Stellenbosch University Museum, highlighted the value of the exhibition and said the archaeological artefacts tell us more about the lifestyle and interaction of ordinary town folks, slaves, and the rich magistrate and his officials.
"The exhibition lifts many veils about the lifestyle and thought patterns of generations that preceded us and laid the foundation for the town and society we live in today."
Burden said although the exhibition is mainly based on archaeological discoveries, it is in essence a cultural history with interesting artefacts that are also a story about the lifestyle of the Khoi.
"It is a story of Simon van der Stel's search for a suitable spot for a new settlement, the story of the handing over of farms to free burghers, of the layout of a new town, of the first Drostdy and all its subsequent versions, and of devastating fires, which were the greatest enemy of people of this valley in the 17th and 18th century."
Describing the exhibition as a special space, Prof Hendrik Bosman, Dean of SU's Faculty of Theology, expressed the hope that it will serve as a celebration of our cultural diversity.
The exhibition will be permanent and information regarding admission and visiting times will be made available soon. A brochure about the exhibition will also be compiled later.
- For more information, please contact Helette van der Westhuizen at 021 808 9560 or hvdwest@sun.ac.za.
Photo: Some of the artefacts exhibited at the Faculty of Theology.
Photographer: Hennie Rudman
