Several years ago, a surprising discovery shocked residents—the mysterious Redhouse skeleton was uncovered during trench digging along a busy street in Redhouse.
The excavation of the Redhouse Skeleton
Soon afterwards, their digger reached the electrical sub-station. At that moment, the bucket tore into the soil and exposed a seated skeleton with a round hole in its temple.
Immediately, the police arrived and declared a crime scene. Nevertheless, common sense soon prevailed because no villager would bury a victim beside such a busy road, even at night.
How old was the skeleton?
It would have been fascinating to determine the Redhouse skeleton’s age. After all, the railway line through Redhouse opened in 1875, and the famous Red House likely existed by 1850. Furthermore, growing activity followed the arrival of the 1820 settlers, by which time few Khoi clans remained intact.
The hole in the skull suggested a gunshot wound.
Therefore, we asked the police for forensic testing to date the bones. Interestingly, the Khoisan—formerly called Hottentots and Bushmen—sometimes buried their dead in a seated posture.
However, by March 2025 the SAPS Forensic Science Laboratory faced a backlog exceeding 140,000 cases. Consequently, I do not expect results soon.
So, what might have happened to this Redhouse skeleton?
Was he a war victim?
During the Third Frontier War, Khoi and Xhosa forces attacked the Star Fort near the Papenkuils River. They captured livestock and retreated toward present-day Kleinskool. Afterwards, they settled down to a celebratory braai, probably enjoying Karri, a fermented honey drink.
Meanwhile, the dragoons recovered their horses and followed the raiders’ trail. Eventually, they reached the braai, joined the gathering uninvited, and killed about forty people. Perhaps our skeleton was one of those casualties.
Alternatively, he may have been killed by passing sailors many years earlier. This Redhouse skeleton raised fascinating questions about the area’s early history.
Ultimately, we will probably never know.
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For more stories about the Village of Redhouse, visit my Redhouse History page.