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A couple of years ago our team had the privilege to conduct a Ground Probing Radar (GPR) scan of the Marine Parade area to outline the remnants of Jan van Riebeek’s earthen fort, which lies beneath the Grand Parade parking area in Cape Town's CBD.
In 1652, Jan van Riebeeck founded this first fort, Fort de Goede Hoop, at the location of what is now the Grand Parade in Cape Town. This event marked the onset of Dutch colonial rule and established the fort as a refreshment station for the Dutch East India Company.
The fort acted as a base for the VOC's refreshment station, offering essential supplies and a resting place for ships during their journeys. Strategically positioned near the beach and a freshwater stream, the fort was well-suited for both defensive purposes and resource accessibility.
Initially, the fort was a simple, enclosed square structure featuring earthen ramparts and clay walls, with rectangular bastions at each corner. Eventually, it was replaced by the Castle of Good Hope, a larger and more enduring stone edifice, which was constructed between 1666 and 1679.
This captivating GPR project our team undertook unfolded over several weeks, during which we successfully identified several noteworthy features, including sections of the original moat that once surrounded the fort. Regrettably, much of the structure has been lost due to the installation of various services, but some remnants still remain.
We thoroughly enjoyed working on this project, as it connects Cape Town's rich history to the present and demonstrates the effectiveness of GPR as a valuable tool for uncovering such features.
If you require assistance with GPR work, feel free to reach out to us today!