BREAKING NEWS: Bones found buried at Joburg Zoo (Video)

UPDATE: Brendan Hart from Mayat Hart Architects and Heritage Consultants explained that the heritage architects have been employed by the zoo to deal with heritage issues regarding the proposed new parking lot.

“Excavations on site by the contractor in preparation for the construction work uncovered what looked like a layer of ash below the surface of the ground.  The contractor noticed that, mixed in the ash, were a collection of bones, broken ceramics and glass,” said Hart.

The area was then cordoned off and archaeologists from PGS Heritage were called to the site.

According to Hart, initial findings have shown that the bones are all animal. The early investigations showed that this it was some sort of ash or rubbish dump.

The pottery that has been found includes broken blue and white willow pattern plates, teapots, medicine bottles and tea cups.

Glassware includes embossed bottles of various types and sizes. “Investigation of the ceramics suggests that the dump could be 100 years or more old.  This would date it to the very early days of the Johannesburg zoo or possibly even before the zoo was established,” explained Hart.

He added while the discovery will certainly delay the work on the site it offers a unique opportunity to look back into the very early history of this portion of Johannesburg.

Applications are being made to the South African Heritage Resource Authority (SAHRA) to do excavations on the dump and to continue the construction work

The area has been cordoned off to prevent any further damage and excavations will start as soon as permits are approved.  Work on the parking lot will continue on the remainder of the site.

INITIAL REPORT: Rosebank Police have confirmed the discovery of bones buried at the Joburg Zoo.

According to Sergeant Bongi Mdletshe police were called to the Joburg Zoo last week after bones were discovered in the parking lot, which is currently under construction.

“Forensic detectives were called to collect the bones, which are currently undergoing tests,” said Mdletshe.

According to a statement issued Councillor Chris Vondo, The Joburg Zoo is building a multi-story parkade in the old visitor parkade on Upper Park Drive. Construction work started a few weeks ago and it is expected to last about three years. During excavation work last week Thursday, a historic midden was discovered.

WATCH A REPORT FROM THE SCENE BELOW:

The South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) was brought in to assist in identifying the remains by the Heritage Consultants who are currently working on-site. They are currently running tests and have indicated that their investigation might take three months.

Their preliminary findings suggest that the remains might be more than 100-years-old. They have also suggested that the remains might be that of livestock.

Click here to read: Joburg Zoo mourns the death of Dumai the orangutan

SAHRA has recommended that construction be halted until the investigation is completed.

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