|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You Are
Here: |
Local News|
Friday, January 28, 2005 - Web posted at 7:38:54 GMT Old rifles not holding back RCC building ABSALOM SHIGWEDHATHE construction of the Roads Contractor Company (RCC) headquarters near the Snyman Circle in Windhoek is going full-steam ahead despite the discovery of hundreds of rifles buried there a century ago RCC Communications Officer Mao Shaetonhodi told The Namibian yesterday that they have already dug down two metres to lay the foundations of the building. |
|
He said the discovery has not hindered the construction at all. On Monday, workers at the site next to the Ministry of Works were astonished when they unearthed the bent and rusty remains of hundreds of old rifles. The architects notified the National Museum of Namibia, which sent experts to determine if the find was of any historical importance. The museum kept a few of the better examples, but allowed members of the public to help themselves to the left-overs. Besides the rifles, some ox-wagon wheels and axes were found. Hobby archaeologist Peter Reiner said the rifles looked about 100 years old and included Martini-Henry and Mauser rifles, double-barrelled shotguns and even more ancient muzzle-loaders. It is believed the arms were destroyed and dumped by German colonial authorities in the early 1900s, after their war against Namibia's Herero and Nama populations. |
|
||||
PO Box 20783 - Windhoek - 42 John Meinert Street Tel: +264 (61) 279600 - Fax: +264 (61) 279602
|
