'N ONDERSOEK NA 'N BRITSE BLOKHUIS OP DIE FORT KLAPPERKOP ERFENISTERREIN, PRETORIA. (Afrikaans)

Archaeological excavations were done in 2012 at a blockhouse at Fort Klapperkop in Pretoria, called the Klapperkop blockhouse number one. It was erected during the Anglo-Boer War (1899-1902)/South African War, and is one of three blockhouses and some defensive walls on the site surrounding Fort Klapperkop. The blockhouse faces the city, which creates the impression that it was used rather in support of the fort than directly protecting the capital. The issue is addressed in the article. The excavations were done to learn more about the construction of the blockhouse, and to search for artefacts of the time, that could assist in contextualising the site as well as to be used in comparative studies related to the other fortifications of the time. It could also possibly assist in determining something about the way of life of the soldiers stationed here, especially due to its close association with the fort and thus its specific function. Apart from artefacts dating from the Anglo-Boer War, some dating from the Second World War (1939-1945) were also unearthed, indicating that the blockhouse was re-used during the latter period. Although it is known that many blockhouses were re-used after the Anglo-Boer War for other purposes, this is a unique example of a blockhouse that was specifically re-used for a war effort. The blockhouse is one of more than 100 constructed in the Pretoria area. Despite many years of research, it remains a challenging effort to provide a complete list of these structures. However, the most complete list to date is included in the discussion to serve as record of the current status on Pretoria blockhouses. It serves also to contextualise the Klapperkop blockhouse. Future research on the number of blockhouses in the region and their positioning, most likely will expose more examples that could be added to the list. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'n Blokhuis by Fort Klapperkop in Pretoria, genoem die Klapperkopblokhuis nommer een, is in 2012 aan argeologiese opgrawings onderwerp. Die blokhuis is gedurende die Anglo-Boereoorlog (1899-1902)/Suid-Afrikaanse oorlog opgerig en is een van drie bekende blokhuise en verskeie verdedigingsmure in die omgewing van Fort Klapperkop. Die struktuur front na die stad Pretoria toe, wat daarop dui dat dit waarskynlik as ondersteuning vir die fort gedien het, eerder as om direk vir die verdediging van die hoofstad aangewend te word. Hierdie aspek word in die artikel aangespreek. Die opgrawings is gedoen om meer oor die konstruksie van die blokhuis vas te stel. In die proses sou voorwerpe uit die tydperk ook blootgelê word, wat kan bydra tot die kontekstualisering van die terrein en om vergelykende studies met ander fortifikasies uit hierdie tydperk te doen. Dit kan ook help om 'n aanduiding te gee van die lewenswyse van die soldate in die blokhuis, veral omdat dit so naby aan die fort geleë is. Die spesifieke funksie van die blokhuis kan moontlik ook hierdeur vasgestel word. Benewens artefakte wat uit die tydperk van die Anglo-Boereoorlog dateer, is voorwerpe uit die tydperk van die Tweede Wêreldoorlog (1939-1945) ook gevind. Dit dui daarop dat die blokhuis gedurende die laasgenoemde oorlog hergebruik is. Hoewel dit bekend is dat blokhuise na die Anglo-Boereoorlog herbenut is, is hierdie 'n unieke geval, omdat dit die enigste een so ver bekend wat tydens 'n ander oorlog herbenut is. Die blokhuis is een van meer as 100 wat in Pretoria opgerig is. Ten spyte van jarelange navorsing, bly dit 'n uitdaging om 'n volledige lys hiervan te bepaal. Die volledigste beskikbare lys word in die artikel weergegee om as rekord van die huidige stand van kennis in hierdie verband te dien, maar ook om die Klapperkopblokhuis in konteks te plaas. Verdere, meer gefokusde navorsing, sal hoogs waarskynlik tot 'n uitbreiding van die lys kon lei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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