The archaeology of the skirmish at Redelinghuys (Vegkop) during the South African War, December 1901

Abstract

The dynamics of skirmishes during a war differ quite a bit from formal engagements. The skirmish on Vegkop during the latter part of the South African War of 1899 to 1902 is a typical example of such an incident. Through the use of metal detectors and the aid of written and oral tradition, the researcher was able to establish the events of the skirmish, as well as highlight the key differences between a skirmish and a battle. Although very small in comparison to the more popular battle sites, any skirmish site investigation can improve our understanding of the dynamics of war. The archaeological investigation into the skirmish between the Boer forces and the British forces in the Sandveld area of the Western Cape provides new insight into the mindset of the guerrilla fighters who boldly took on the British forces on their own territory and who were vastly unprepared for such an invasion

Daar bestaan ‘n wesentlike verskil in die dinamika tussen skermutselings en die meer formele gevegte tydens ‘n oorlog. Die gebeure by Vegkop gedurende die laaste deel van die Suid-Afrikaanse Oorlog van 1899 tot 1902 is ‘n sprekende voorbeeld van so ‘n skermutseling. Die gebruik van metaalverklikkers, tesame met geskrewe bronne en mondelinge oorvertellings, het die navorser in staat gestel om die gebeure tydens die skermutseling te ondersoek, sowel as om die oorwegende verskille tussen ‘n skermutseling en ‘n formele geveg aan te dui. Hoewel ‘n skermutseling klein is in vergelyking met die meer bekende gevegte, kan enige ondersoek na ‘n skermutselingsterrein ons meer insig gee oor die dinamika van ‘n oorlog. Die argeologiese ondersoek na die skermutseling tussen die Boeremagte en die Britse magte, in die Sandveld-streek van die Wes-Kaap, bied nuwe insigte tot die ingesteldheid van die guerrillavegters wat waaghalsig die niksvermoedende Britse magte op hul eie grondgebied aangepak het

Ubudlelwane bongquzulwano ngexesha lemfazwe bohlukile kancinane kwidabi elisesikweni. Ungquzulwano lwaseVegkop njengenxalenye yokugqibela yeMfazwe yoMzantsi Afrika yowe1899 ukuya kowe1902 ngumzekelo oqhelekileyo wesiganeko esinjalo. Ngokusebenzisa izixhobo zentsimbi kunye noncedo lwembali ebhaliweyo neyomlomo, umphandi ukwazile ukufumana iziganeko zolu ngquzulwano, kunye nokubhentsisa umahluko ophambili phakathi kongquzulwano kunye nedabi okanye imfazwe. Nangona ezi ziganeko zincinci kakhulu xa zithelekiswa neendawo zamadabi/iimfazwe ezaziwa kakhulu, naluphi na uphando lwendawo yongquzulwano lunokuphucula ukuqonda kwethu iintshukumo zemfazwe. Uphando lwenzululwazi ngezakudala malunga nongquzulwano phakathi kwemikhosi yamaBhulu kunye nemikhosi yaseBritani kwindawo yaseSandveld eNtshona Koloni lunika umbono omtsha malunga nendlela yokucinga yabanqolobi abathi ngenkalipho bahlasela imikhosi yaseBritani kwindawo yayo neyayingalilungiselelanga kwaphela olo hlaselo