Potshards of Zig-Zag cave at Port St Johns, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Abstract

Ceramic pots which once were whole and in use by peoples many centuries ago have, in most instances \nalong the Eastern Cape coast of southern Africa, become fragmented and buried below consecutive \nlayers of sand, soil, vegetation, and leftovers of people’s lives. Yet, such potshards also pop up and \nbecome revealed as coverings move and peoples disturb resting places. Their omnipresence in parts \nof the archaeological landscape of this region has led several writers to record their presence and \nspeculate as to various significances during the past century. This article, with reference to some \nideas of ruination, takes a look at ceramic artifacts excavated at Zig-Zag and Umgazana caves in \nand near Port St Johns [with contextualization mainly from the likes of PW Laidler (1929), as well \nas from EC Chubb, G Burnam King and MA Mogg (1934); and from J Schofield’s researches in \nthe 1930s] as part of a process aimed at further establishing a setting for the visual arts milieu of \ncontemporary rural potter Alice Gqa Nongebeza, who works in that area.

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