HERBCO Technical Services

𝗠𝗲𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 Let's share with you an exciting case study... This pottery was recovered during salvage works by 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗕𝗖𝗢 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗗𝗶𝗯𝗲𝘁𝗲-𝗠𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗲𝗻𝗴 𝗥𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟭𝟵, near the village of Dovedale, between Mookane and Machaneng. The first/left image shows a potsherd (a fragment of a clay pot) with decorative motifs. Ancient Iron Age communities usually decorated their pottery depending on its intended use. The second/right image features a complete clay pot, recovered at the site. Inside the pot, ostrich eggshell beads were found, preserved by years of soil deposits. Some beads appeared to be in the process of being made into necklaces, with some already perforated for stringing, while others weren’t bored through. As to the sudden and abrupt decision to abandon these precious beads halfway through the manufacturing process, we can only leave it to your imagination. Nearby, human remains were also recovered. These remains underwent osteological analysis and a sample was extracted and sent for radio-carbon dating at Beta Analytic Lab in Miami, USA. Radiocarbon dating revealed that the burials were generally from 1476 -1636 cal AD (over 300 years old). Stable isotope reading showed that the individual subsisted on domestic cereals like sorghum and millet including animals that fed on grasses, probably cattle. In conclusion, the pottery pictured here are a moment in time, around 300 years ago, when Bantu farmers occupied the area around the modern-day village of Dovedale. These materials are currently under the custody of The Department of National Museum and Monuments (DNMM) in Gaborone. A full report can be found at the DNMM library. #BotswanaHistory #CRM #HERBCO

Let’s pick up where we left off... 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐮𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬&𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐭 (𝐌𝐑𝐀) 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐭𝐬 𝐋𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 Developers are required by law (MRA Act) to undertake a pre-development study Archaeological Impact Assessment of the project area. This should be done by an accredited archaeologist. The recommendations made on the report are to be implemented during the construction monitoring phase of the project. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐛𝐲 𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭😏. 𝐇𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚 𝐟𝐞𝐰 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: • Due to logistical and administrative challenges faced by the Department of National Museum and Monuments, developers are getting away with not engaging Archaeologists and subsequent damage to heritage sites. • Developers are not required by law to pay for research on material culture salvaged from their project areas. These materials end up on storage at the National Museum with little to no accompanying information about them.  #CulturalHeritage #SustainableDevelopment #HERBCO

𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭’𝐬 𝐃𝐚𝐲! Today, we honor the visionary leaders who through their dedication and leadership have shaped Botswana’s progress. Join us in celebrating their legacies and the bright future they inspire! #PresidentsDay #BotswanaLeadership #HERBCO #improvinglives

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𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐆𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐜𝐞𝐬 𝐝𝐞𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐛𝐲 𝐥𝐚𝐰? The Monuments and Relics Act, enacted by the Parliament of Botswana in 2001, provides a comprehensive framework for the definition and protection of heritage resources. It defines “ancient monument” as any building, ruin, remaining portion of a building or ruin, ancient working, stone circle, grave, cave, rock shelter, midden, cave mound, archaeological site or other site or thing of a similar kind, which is known or believed to have been erected, constructed or used in Botswana before 1st June 1902. 𝐑𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: Section 16 of the act states that no works, research or otherwise, shall be done at such sites without the approval of the Minister. The act further states that any person(s) wishing to undertake major developments which will physically disturb the earth’s surface must undertake an archaeological pre-development impact assessment study, undertaken only by an accredited archaeologist and submit a report to the Minister within 60 days. Works may only continue after receiving planning consent from the Minister, if allowed. The act further states that any person found in contravention of this act is liable to a fine not exceeding P10 000.00 or 1-year imprisonment or both.  The Monuments and Relics Act of 2001 is implemented through the Department of National Museum and Monuments. This legislation underscores 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐬𝐰𝐚𝐧𝐚'𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐢𝐭𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐬, 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐰𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞𝐠𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐟𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. #HERBCO #CRM #Archaeology #CulturalHeritage

𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲   At HERBCO, we are dedicated to cultural heritage through our 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬. In simple terms, archaeology is the study, preservation and management of human activity before written records. Human activity is interpreted through cultural resources left by our forefathers such as heritage sites, artefacts, graves, structures etc. Preservation and management of these resources is enforced by the Monuments and Relics Act of 2001 through the Department of National Museum and Monuments. Archaeology resources heritage and economic potential in Botswana Botswana has an abundance of cultural resources spread across the country. The benefits of their preservation and management are both scholarly and economic. The study of these resources adds Botswana to scholarly literature and in turn attracts economic activity through scholarly research and tourism.  #Archaeology #HERBCO #CRM #CulturalHeritage

𝐒𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐚 𝐛𝐢𝐠 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭. As we strive towards sustainability, let's remember that every choice we make—𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞—contributes to a greener future.  #ESG #HERBCO #SustainablePractices #improvinglives

🌿 𝐇𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐲 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐇𝐄𝐑𝐁𝐂𝐎! 🌿 It’s finally the weekend and we hope you’re ready to kick back, relax and enjoy some well-deserved downtime! At HERBCO, we know that a little bit of rest can go a long way in keeping our lives balanced and sustainable. Whether you’re lounging on the couch or enjoying a fun activity with loved ones, remember that taking time for yourself is just as important as working hard. 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐭 𝐮𝐩, 𝐫𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫! Here’s to a weekend filled with relaxation and joy. Cheers to improving lives, one restful moment at a time! #HERBCO #ImprovingLives #Sustainability #RestAndRecharge

As we are about to end the week, let's harness the power we have to make a meaningful impact on the environment and one another. Together, we can create a better world! 𝐈𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨, 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐞𝐞 𝐚 𝐦𝐚𝐧 𝐩𝐚𝐝𝐝𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚 𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐞 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐟𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐢𝐧 – 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭'𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐬𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭. #sustainabledevelopment #improvinglives #HERBCO

This week, let's focus on how our work in 𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐞𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥 stewardship can truly improve lives. Together, we can make a lasting impact and build a brighter, more sustainable future. #ImprovingLives #EngineeringExcellence #EnvironmentalStewardship #HERBCO