, QUESTION 1
1.1
a) Archaeology and history both investigate the human past, but they rely on different types of
evidence. History mainly uses written sources such as documents, letters, official records and books,
while archaeology examines physical evidence left behind by people. This includes artefacts,
structures, bones, food remains, rock art and archaeological deposits. Archaeology is particularly
important for studying communities that did not leave written records because physical evidence
can reveal information about their daily activities, technology, diet, beliefs and relationship with the
environment. It can also provide information about groups whose experiences were not adequately
recorded in written sources (SAHRA, 2025; Bradfield et al., 2022).
b) Four categories of archaeological evidence include:
Artefacts: These are objects made, modified or used by people, such as stone tools, pottery
and beads. They can provide information about technology, trade, economic activities and
cultural practices.
Ecofacts: These are natural remains associated with human activity, including animal bones,
seeds, shells and charcoal. They can provide information about diet, hunting, plant use and
past environments.
Features and structures: These include hearths, pits, floors and buildings. Since they
generally remain in their original locations, they help archaeologists understand how people
organised and used particular spaces.
Rock art and symbolic evidence: Paintings and engravings can provide information about
beliefs, identity, social practices and relationships with the environment. The rock art at
Kruger Cave therefore contributes to understanding the cultural significance of the site
(Bradfield et al., 2022).
c) Archaeological research contributes to an understanding of human behaviour by examining what
people made, used, consumed and discarded. Artefacts, food remains and features can reveal
activities such as hunting, cooking, tool production and settlement.
It also helps researchers understand cultural change by comparing evidence from different periods.
Changes in technology, settlement patterns, food practices and artistic traditions can show how
communities responded to social and environmental changes.
Archaeological research further supports heritage conservation because it helps identify the
significance of sites and the threats they face. Research at Kruger Cave, for example, identified
important archaeological deposits and rock art while also documenting the effects of erosion and
human activity on the site (Bradfield et al., 2022).
1.2
a) One objective of the 1982–1983 Kruger Cave excavation team was to recover archaeological
information before continued vandalism caused further damage to the site. Excavation allowed
researchers to collect and document archaeological material that could otherwise have been lost.
1.1
a) Archaeology and history both investigate the human past, but they rely on different types of
evidence. History mainly uses written sources such as documents, letters, official records and books,
while archaeology examines physical evidence left behind by people. This includes artefacts,
structures, bones, food remains, rock art and archaeological deposits. Archaeology is particularly
important for studying communities that did not leave written records because physical evidence
can reveal information about their daily activities, technology, diet, beliefs and relationship with the
environment. It can also provide information about groups whose experiences were not adequately
recorded in written sources (SAHRA, 2025; Bradfield et al., 2022).
b) Four categories of archaeological evidence include:
Artefacts: These are objects made, modified or used by people, such as stone tools, pottery
and beads. They can provide information about technology, trade, economic activities and
cultural practices.
Ecofacts: These are natural remains associated with human activity, including animal bones,
seeds, shells and charcoal. They can provide information about diet, hunting, plant use and
past environments.
Features and structures: These include hearths, pits, floors and buildings. Since they
generally remain in their original locations, they help archaeologists understand how people
organised and used particular spaces.
Rock art and symbolic evidence: Paintings and engravings can provide information about
beliefs, identity, social practices and relationships with the environment. The rock art at
Kruger Cave therefore contributes to understanding the cultural significance of the site
(Bradfield et al., 2022).
c) Archaeological research contributes to an understanding of human behaviour by examining what
people made, used, consumed and discarded. Artefacts, food remains and features can reveal
activities such as hunting, cooking, tool production and settlement.
It also helps researchers understand cultural change by comparing evidence from different periods.
Changes in technology, settlement patterns, food practices and artistic traditions can show how
communities responded to social and environmental changes.
Archaeological research further supports heritage conservation because it helps identify the
significance of sites and the threats they face. Research at Kruger Cave, for example, identified
important archaeological deposits and rock art while also documenting the effects of erosion and
human activity on the site (Bradfield et al., 2022).
1.2
a) One objective of the 1982–1983 Kruger Cave excavation team was to recover archaeological
information before continued vandalism caused further damage to the site. Excavation allowed
researchers to collect and document archaeological material that could otherwise have been lost.
