scholarly journals Geochemical characterization of karst groundwater in the cradle of humankind world heritage site, South Africa

2008 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 513-524 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Holland ◽  
K. T. Witthüser
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Karst Groundwater ◽  
Geochemical Characterization ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Cradle Of Humankind

scholarly journals The threat of mine effluent to the UNESCO status of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

2010 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J F Durand ◽  
J Meeuvis ◽  
M Fourie
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Mine Drainage ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Management Measures ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
The World ◽  
Mine Effluent ◽  
Cradle Of Humankind

There is a significant environmental risk posed to the region in which one of the most important and richest archaeological and palaeontological resources is located in South Africa. This area, known as the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage (COHWHS), is situated adjacent to one of the richest gold bearing geological sequence in the world. The mine pollution which is emanating from the mines in the form of acid mine drainage (AMD) is threatening this remarkable resource which has yielded the biggest collection of hominin fossils in the world. The environmental degradation of the COHWHS will have a major impact on the archaeological and palaeontological heritage of not only South Africa, but the world, as well as the tourism, hospitality and education sectors of South Africa. If monitoring, mitigation and management measures are not implemented effectively with immediate effect to avoid or minimise the negative effects, the COHWHS may stand the risk of losing its status and be demoted to the UNESCO List of World Heritage in Danger. Ultimately, if the site loses the characteristics that determined its inscription in the World Heritage List, the World Heritage Committee may decide to delete the property from its list.

A summary of the history of exploration at the Sterkfontein Caves in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site

2020 ◽  
pp. 3-7
Author(s):  
J. Francis Thackeray
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Second Phase ◽  
Stone Artifacts ◽  
The Third ◽  
Third Phase ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
History Of ◽  
Cradle Of Humankind

Sterkfontein Caves, near Pretoria, South Africa, are part of the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site. The caves have yielded hundreds of hominin fossils recovered over a period spanning more than a century. Exploration of the deposits has occurred in three phases. In the first phase from 1895–1935, fossils of various animals were recovered unsystematically by limestone miners, who noted fossiliferous breccias. The second phase, from 1936–1966, involved teams led by Robert Broom and John Robinson. Broom and Robinson’s excavations recovered many hominin fossils from Members 4 and 5, stone artifacts, and initial mapping of the Sterkfontein deposits. The third phase, 1966 until the present, included excavations led by Philip Tobias, Alun Hughes, Tim Partridge, Ron Clarke, Kathy Kuman, and Dominic Stratford. During this phase, the six members of the Sterkfontein deposits were recognized and characterized, and additional fossils of hominins and other fauna, as well as stone artifacts were recovered. Importantly, extensive analysis of fauna and paleonvironments was conducted. Hominin fossils were also recovered from Member 2. Considerable geochronological work has been done to characterize the complex stratigraphy and dating of these deposits. This chapter reviews the history of fieldwork at Sterkfontein.

scholarly journals INSAR COHERENCE AND POLARIMETRIC PARAMETERS BASED CHARACTERIZATION OF FLOODED AREA – CASE STUDY OF A NATURAL WORLD HERITAGE SITE KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK

2018 ◽  
Vol IV-5 ◽  
pp. 265-272
Author(s):  
A. S. Dini Das ◽  
S. Kumar ◽  
A. Babu ◽  
P. K. Thakur
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Natural World ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Alos Palsar ◽  
Kaziranga National Park ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
L Band ◽  
Flooded Area

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> Flood is a major threat to one of the UNESCO world heritage site of India-The Kaziranga National Park. Every year during the monsoon several hundreds of animals which include globally threatened species like single-horned Indian Rhinoceros of Kaziranga lose their lives due to the flood. The Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) can be used to monitoring the flood than the optical remote sensors because of their capability of all-weather and time-independent operability. The microwave L band is most suitable for the flood studies because of its higher penetration capability even through the vegetation. In this study, the advantages of SAR polarimetry and Interferometry of multi-temporal L band dual-pol data of ALOS PALSAR 2 were used to characterize the flooded area and also to monitor the flood extent. The H/ A/ Alpha decomposition gives a better characterization of the flooded area. The separability analysis is done with a different combination of decomposition parameters and the parameters having high-class separability between water and non-water areas are selected. Polarimetric classification using Random forest classifier is done on these selected decomposition parameters to classify the study into water and non-water areas. The classified images of different months before, during and after the flood time is used to quantitatively estimate the flood extent and for time series analysis. The Interferometric SAR coherence images along with the backscatter images are used to generate the RGB composites which also gives times series information on the flood impact.</p>

scholarly journals Conveyance of preaching by vulnerable listeners – A case study of farm workers in the Vredefort Dome South Africa

2015 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Barend J. De Klerk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Empirical Investigation ◽  
World Heritage ◽  
Farm Workers ◽  
World Heritage Site ◽  
Heritage Site ◽  
Worship Services ◽  
Vulnerable People ◽  
Vulnerable Persons

Farm workers living in and around the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site are some of the most vulnerable people in South Africa. Research by means of a case study with four participants from this group examined the following question: How do vulnerable people continue preaching the Word in this environment by ministering to other vulnerable people with the sermons that they have heard? The case study considered both the environment and the circumstances in which these participants live. This research aimed to establish what it means to preach to those who are vulnerable and how such preaching can be continued by the hearers. A case study by means of a qualitative empirical investigation called upon a few of the vulnerable hearers to speak.Thefindings included that the participants to this case study do not spread the sermons further on a regular basis, but they would be able to edify and encourage other vulnerable persons with it if needed. If they do talk to each other about the sermon directly after the worship service (like it was done during the interviews), their confidence to proclaim the message to other vulnerable people who do not participate in the worship services will increase. Plaaswerkers wat in die omgewing van die wêrelderfenisgebied, die Vredefortkoepel, woon, is van die mees weerlose wesens in Suid-Afrika. ’n Gevallestudie, waaraan vier van hierdie persone deelgeneem het, is gedoen. Dit het oor die volgende vraag gehandel: Hoe word preke wat aan weerloses bedien word deur hulle aan ander in hulle omgewing wat in dieselfde omstandighede verkeer, voortgedra? Die omgewing waarin die deelnemers woon en hulle lewensomstandighede is nagegaan. Daar is gepoog om vas te stel wat onder prediking aan weerloses verstaan word en hoe sodanige prediking deur die hoorders verder versprei kan word. Die gevallestudie, wat deur middel van ’n kwalitatiewe empiriese ondersoek plaasgevind het, het enkele van die weerlose hoorders self aan die woord laat kom. Die bevinding was dat die deelnemers hieraan nie die preke op ʼngereelde basis verder laat weerklink nie, maar dat hulle wel in staat sou wees om ander weerlose persone daarmee te versterk en te bemoedig. Indien hulle wel onmiddellik na die diens met mekaar oor die preek van die dag sou gesels (soos dit in die onderhoude gedoen is), kan die vrymoedigheid groei om die boodskap ook aan ander weerlose mense wat nie aan die erediens deelgeneem het nie, oor te dra.

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