Theft from Stevenson - Hamilton Library, museum. - SANParks.org Forums
Theft from Stevenson - Hamilton Library, museum.
Unread post by gmlsmit » Sat Jun 10, 2017 12:29 pm
I was really shocked upon reading this article in News 24 this morning:
Link http://www.netwerk24.com. misdaadstatistieke.
Antieke goue juweliersware en artefakte wat by die Thulamela-argeologiese terrein opgegrawe is en in die museum in die biblioteek in Skukuza tentoongestel is, het in Desember verlede jaar spoorloos uit ’n glasvertoonkas verdwyn.
Die artefakte, waaronder vroue- en mansjuweliersware asook muntstukke, dateer uit die tyd tussen 1250 en 1700.
Argeologiese opgrawings in die noorde van die Krugerwildtuin, ’n paar kilometer wes van Pafuri, is hoofsaaklik in die laaste helfte van die jare negentig van die vorige eeu afgehandel.
Argeoloë het benewens die goue juweliersware ook juwele van brons en glasvoorwerpe hier gekry.
William Mabasa, woordvoerder van die wildtuin, het gesê die goue juweliersware en muntstukke het op 14 Desember uit die vertoonkas verdwyn. Die vertoonkas was gesluit. Daar was geen teken van enige gedwonge toegang tot die museum nie. Die vertoonkas se slot was ook nie gebreek nie.
Die polisie ondersoek ’n diefstalsaak, maar geen verdagtes is nog geïdentifiseer nie,” het Mabasa gesê.
Volgens Mabasa is Sanparke dronkgeslaan deur die diefstal. “Ons vermoed dit het moontlik in kantoorure gebeur en dalk deur iemand wat ’n sleutel vir die glaskas gehad het.”
Na verneem word is die artefakte na die Kultuurhistoriese museum in Pretoria gebring, waarna Sanparke daarop aangedring het dit moet in Skukuza ten toon gestel word. Dit is nooit by die museum in Pretoria ten toon gestel nie en is sowat drie jaar gelede na Skukuza gebring.
Mabasa het gesê al die artefakte is na Skukuza gebring en daar ten toon gestel as deel van die “storie van Thulamela”.
Net die goue artefakte is weg.
Al die ander (artefakte) is nog net so in die glaskas,” het Mabasa gesê.
Die juwele het aan koning Ingwe en koningin Losha behoort wat in die 16de eeu in die gebied geheers het.
Argeoloë meen daar het tussen 1 000 en 2 000 mense by Thulamela gewoon. Hulle was kranige goudsmede en het goud as hul betaalmiddel gebruik.
Antique jewelry and artifact discovered at the Thulamela archaeological site and displayed at the museum in the Skukuza library, disappeared without a trace during December last year.
The artifacts, being female and male jewelry together with gold coins dated back to the period 1250 and 1700.
Archaeological work in the northern parts of the KNP to the west of Pafuri took place during the late 1990s.
Apart from the golden jewelry, bronze jewelry and glass items were discovered.
William Mabasa spokesperson of SANParks mentioned that the gold jewelry and coins disappeared from the display cabinet on 14 December 2016. The cabinet was locked, no forced entry was visible and the cabinet lock was also undamaged.
The police are investigating a case of theft, no suspects have been identified.
Mabasa said that they suspect that the theft took place during office hours and that the theft was undertaken by someone who has access to the cabinet keys.
After discovery, the artifacts were taken to the Pretoria Cultural and Historic Museum in Pretoria where they were not on display, SANParks insisted that the artifacts be displayed in Skukuza. The items were moved to Skukuza about three years ago, and displayed as part of the “Story of Thulamela”.
Only the golden artifacts were stolen. The other items were left in the cabinet, untouched.
The jewelry belonged to King Ingwe (Leopard and Queen Losha (so named because she was buried with her cheek on her hands as a sign of respect), who reigned during the 16th century.
Archaeologists are of opinion that between 1000 and 2000 people lived at Thulamela. They were skilled goldsmiths and used gold as currency.
I was fortunate enough to visit the Stevenson - Hamilton Library on Tuesday 13 December 2016 and show the mentioned to two of my grand children.
That evening I had to tell the two and their parents, my wife and the in laws about the Thulamela Kingdom.
Little did I then realize how fortunate we were as of the items viewed, would be stolen by some heartless thief the following day.
Re: Theft from Stevenson - Hamilton Library, museum.
Unread post by Rooies » Sat Jun 10, 2017 3:11 pm
Hundreds of years of African history gone.
Unread post by hilda » Sat Jun 10, 2017 3:14 pm
Shocking and very sad indeed!
Unread post by Mischief » Sun Jun 11, 2017 7:42 am
Gold worth value = minimal probably
History worth value = IRREPLACABLE!
Unread post by Grantmissy » Sun Jun 11, 2017 3:41 pm
Unread post by Meandering Mouse » Mon Jun 12, 2017 4:46 am
This is very sad news. What priceless items lost.
Unread post by Nkulu » Mon Jun 12, 2017 6:14 am
Unread post by George_Brits » Mon Jun 12, 2017 11:04 am
It is very sad indeed. No monetary value can be added to this. Sad news indeed
Unread post by Rooies » Mon Jun 12, 2017 12:57 pm
According to Sidney Miller, a civil engineer and archaeologist who were part of the team that did the work at Thulamela from 1993 to 1996, the artefacts are probably in the hands of a collector. The gold value is probably around R10 000,00 but the historical value is the same as those of Tutankhamun.