Contractors in Bo-Kaap uncover 150-year old archaeological site

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Well, well, well, look what we have here…

While working on construction of the new Bo-Kaap market, the City of Cape Town’s Economic Growth Directorate’s contractor stumbled upon a rare, historic find.

According to the City, during the construction process, the contractor uncovered a stone well on the Bo-Kaap property associated with the national heritage site, the Spolander House. The well is said to be more than 150 years old.�

“Upon discovering the well, our officials instructed the contractor to immediately cease work. On confirmation that the well was indeed archaeological, officials from Heritage Western Cape were notified. Following careful inspection, the City’s heritage officials worked with the construction crew to secure the well and surrounding area and allow development to continue,” Alderman James Vos, the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth said.

“The well is located on a portion of the farm, Schotsekloof, originally granted in 1707. The farm underwent several subdivisions and in the 1830s the remaining portion of the farm, on which the well was found, belonged to Mr Pentz. In the 1930s, the property was expropriated as part of the so-called Slums Clearance Act of 1934.” the City revealed.