Preservation of Nelson Bay Cave

1970年，美国国家科学基金会资助理查德·克莱恩博士在纳尔逊湾洞穴进行考古挖掘。这个南非遗址的工作揭示了一系列分层沉积，这些沉积横跨上更新世(冰河时代)，一直持续到冰川后时期。克莱因博士发现了一系列与丰富的动物遗骸相关的考古产业，并为这一沿海地区建立了发展序列。现代人正是在这一时期出现的，因此，这些数据具有相当大的考古学意义。挖掘完成后，现场用栅栏围了起来，调查人员错误地认为这个栅栏可以保护剩余的矿藏。不幸的是，这并没有发生，未受干扰的沉积物正在坠落到这个洞里。这笔赠款提供的资金将允许克莱恩博士填充挖掘，从而保护完好无损的矿藏。随着技术的进步，考古学家经常返回挖掘部分挖掘遗址的更多部分，以恢复新的信息类别。因此，只有在最特殊的情况下，才会挖掘整个遗址，并为未来的研究保留区域。在这方面，重要的是防止纳尔逊湾洞穴的情况进一步恶化。由于最初的挖掘是由国家科学基金会负责的，它提供保护资金是非常合理的。

In 1970 the NSF provided funds to Dr. Richard Klein for an archaeological excavation at Nelson Bay Cave. Work at this South African site revealed a series of stratified deposits which spanned the Upper Pleistocene (Ice Age) and continued into the post-glacial period. Dr. Klein uncovered a series of archaeological industries associated with abundant faunal remains and established a developmental sequence for this coastal region. It was during this period that modern humans appeared, and thus, these data are of considerable archaeological significance. When excavation was completed, the site was fenced and investigators mistakenly believed that this barrier would protect the remaining deposits. Unfortunately, this has not happened and undisturbed sediments are slumping into the hole. Funds provided by this grant will permit Dr. Klein to fill the excavation, and thus, protect the intact deposits. As technology advances, archaeologists often return to excavate additional portions of partially dug sites to recover new classes of information. Thus, only under the most exceptional circumstances are entire sites excavated and areas are preserved for future research. In this context, it is important to prevent the further deterioration at Nelson Bay Cave. Since NSF was responsible for the initial excavation, it is eminently reasonable for it to provide preservation funds.