Kathu - Revision history

Maintenance script: Local correction: Kathu should redirect to Phuket Kathu district, not South Africa Kathu

2026-06-15T04:40:45Z

Local correction: Kathu should redirect to Phuket Kathu district, not South Africa Kathu

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 15 June 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{About\|\|the district in Phuket, Thailand\|Amphoe Kathu\|the Loloish language in Yunnan, China\|Kathu language}}~~		#REDIRECT [[Kathu district]]
	~~{{more citations needed\|date=July 2013}}~~
	~~{{Infobox settlement~~
	~~\| name = Kathu~~
	~~\| pushpin_map = South Africa Northern Cape~~#~~South Africa~~
	~~\| coordinates = {{coord\|27\|42\|S\|23\|03\|E\|region:ZA\|display=inline,title}}~~
	~~\| subdivision_type = Country~~
	~~\| subdivision_name = [[South Africa]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type1 = Province~~
	~~\| subdivision_name1 = [[Northern Cape]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type2 = District~~
	~~\| subdivision_name2 = [[John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality\|John Taolo Gaetsewe]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type3 = Municipality~~
	~~\| subdivision_name3 =~~ [[~~Gamagara Local Municipality\|Gamagara]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type4 = Main Place~~
	~~\| established_title = Established~~
	~~\| leader_title = Councillor~~
	~~\| area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web \|url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/362003 \|title = Main Place~~ Kathu ~~\|work=Census 2011}}</ref>~~
	~~\| area_total_km2 = 15.56~~
	~~\| population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />~~
	~~\| population_total = 11510~~
	~~\| population_as_of = 2011~~
	~~\| population_density_km2 = auto~~
	~~<!-- demographics (section 1) -->\| demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011)~~
	~~\| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />~~
	~~\| demographics1_title1 = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa\|Black African]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info1 = 39.2%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title2 = [[Coloureds\|Coloured]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info2 = 21.7%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title3 = [[Indian South African\|Indian]]/[[Asian South African\|Asian]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info3 = 0.6%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title4 = [[White South African\|White]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info4 = 38.0%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title5 = Other~~
	~~\| demographics1_info5 = 0.6%~~
	~~<!-- demographics (section 2) -->\| demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s (2011)~~
	~~\| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />~~
	~~\| demographics2_title1 = [[Afrikaans]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info1 = 62.1%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title2 = [[Tswana language\|Tswana]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info2 = 23.4%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title3 = [[South African English\|English]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info3 = 6.0%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title4 = [[Sotho language\|Sotho]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info4 = 1.8%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title5 = Other~~
	~~\| demographics2_info5 = 6.8%~~
	~~<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->~~
	~~<!-- Other information -->\| timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time\|SAST]]~~
	~~\| utc_offset1 = +2~~
	~~\| postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in South Africa\|Postal code]] (street)~~
	~~\| postal_code = 8446~~
	~~\| postal2_code_type = [[Post-office box\|PO box]]~~
	~~\| postal2_code = 8446~~
	~~\| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa\|Area code]]~~
	~~\| area_code = 053~~
	}}
	'''Kathu''' is a town in [[South Africa]], and the iron ore capital of the [[Northern Cape]] province. Its name means "town under the trees",<!-- in what language? --> after the [[Acacia erioloba\|Camel Thorn]] forest it is situated in. The phrase "the town under the trees" was coined by an engineer working in the town in the early-1990s as part of a tourist marketing drive, together with the accompanying graphic. It was intended to be a marketing slogan. The meaning of the word "Kathu" has anecdotically been attributed to a porridge brewed by the local population from the powder found in the pods of the Camel Thorn trees.

	~~Kathu was founded in the late-1960s or early-1970s.~~

	~~Kathu is situated between Upington and Vryburg with about a 2-hour drive to each. Kimberley is a 3-hour drive away, while Kuruman is only 20 minutes away.~~

	~~==Camel thorn tree forest==~~
	The Camel Thorn tree [http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/acaciaeriol.htm Acacia erioloba] forest is one of only two in the world with the other being between Mariental and Rehoboth in [http://www.namibiatourism.com.na Namibia]. Its unique nature was recognized in the early-1920s when it was declared a State Forest. In 1995 it was registered as a Natural Heritage Site. The [[Kathu Forest]] is approximately 4000 hectares in size and these Camel thorns trees provide support for large Sociable Weaver’s nests and are used by many other bird and animal species. In fact surveys has shown a moderate to high diversity in animal and plant species, including several [http://www.proteaatlas.org.za Red Data], endemic and protected species in and around the forest. Bigger trees in the forest are reckoned to be older than 300 years.

	~~==Mining==~~
	The town and the accompanying industrial area of [[Sishen]] came into being because of [[iron ore]] [[mining]] activity in the [[Kalahari]] — it has one of the five largest [[open-pit mining\|open-cast]] iron ore mining operations in the world.{{Citation needed\|date=November 2007}} The primary drilling and 'load and haul' mining equipment used by the mine include giant ore trucks that bear about 260 ton of ore with each load. Mining shovels used to load these trucks can weigh in excess of 800 tons and drilling equipment include drills that can drill up to 400 mm holes for blasting purposes. Some of the world's longest ore trains travel through harsh territory on the [[Sishen-Saldanha Railway Line\|Sishen-Saldanha railway]] to offload their cargo at [[Saldanha Bay]]. [[Kumba Iron Ore]] is the principal mine operator in Kathu.

	~~==Recreation==~~
	~~Kathu has a golf course and a small, well-stocked game reserve also adjoins the town.~~

	~~The town has a well established sporting complex including tennis courts, swimming pool and a golf course. One of the tennis courts is named after veteran tennis player Herta Hegewisch.~~

	~~==Kathu Archaeological Site Complex==~~
	Significant Stone Age sites occur in and around [[Kathu Archaeological Sites\|Kathu]] and on adjacent farms. These are subject to on-going archaeological research.<ref>Beaumont, P.B., 2004. Kathu Pan and Kathu Townlands/Uitkoms. In: Morris, D. & Beaumont, P.B. (Eds.), Archaeology in the Northern Cape: Some Key Sites. Southern African Association for Archaeologists Postconference Excursion, Kimberley, McGregor Museum: pp. 50–53; Chazan, M., Wilkins, J., Morris, D. & Berna, F. 2012. Bestwood 1: a newly discovered Earlier Stone Age living surface near Kathu, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Antiquity 86(331): Antiquity Gallery.; Porat, N., Chazan, M., Grun, R., Aubert, M., Eisenmann, V., Kolska-Horwitz, L. 2009. New radiometric ages for the Fauresmith industry from Kathu Pan, Southern Africa: Implications for the Earlier to Middle Stone Age Transition. Journal of Archaeological Science 37: 269-283; Wilkins, J. & Chazan, M. 2012. Blade production ~500 thousand years ago at Kathu Pan 1, South Africa: support for a multiple origins hypothesis for early Middle Pleistocene blade technology. Journal of Archaeological Science, Available online 4 February 2012.</ref>

	The importance of the Kathu Pan site was highlighted in the November 16, 2012 issue of the journal ''Science'' in which Jayne Wilkins and colleagues reveal evidence of 500 000 year-old stone points (excavated by Peter Beaumont in 1979-1982), argued to be the earliest stone-tipped spears yet found. This conclusion, based partly on study of use wear, is taken to indicate that human ancestors used stone-tipped weapons for hunting 200 000 years earlier than previously thought. Wilkins is quoted as saying that the find does more than simply extend the prehistory of stone-tipped spears – it puts those first spears firmly in the hands of ''[[Homo heidelbergensis]]''. "Modern foragers use such tools to take down large game as part of cooperative, strategic hunts. Perhaps our ancestor did so too."<ref>[https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22508-first-stonetipped-spear-thrown-earlier-than-thought.html\|NSNS\|2012-GLOBAL\|online-news First stone-tipped spear thrown earlier than thought]</ref>

	Kathu Townlands, one of the richest early prehistoric archaeological sites at Kathu, has produced tens of thousands of Earlier Stone Age artifacts, including hand axes and other tools and estimated to be between 700,000 and one million years old. It is situated between the Kuruman Hills to the east and the Langberge mountains to the west. These discovery was made in 2013 by archaeologists from the [[University of Cape Town]] and the [[University of Toronto]], in collaboration with the [[McGregor Museum]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.science20.com/news_articles/acheulean_artefacts_stone_age_find_in_northern_cape_of_south_africa-141283\|title=Acheulean Artefacts: Stone Age Find In Northern Cape Of South Africa\|website=Science 2.0\|date=July 27, 2014}}</ref>

	~~==References==~~
	~~{{Reflist}}~~

	~~==External links==~~
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061004101014/http://www.kathu-online.co.za/ Official website (Afrikaans)]
	* [http://www.kathu.co.za/ Official website]
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516235006/http://www.cope.co.za/archaeo/masterhandaxe.htm Handaxe from Kathu Pan 1 archaeological site]
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924090153/http://www.cope.co.za/Archaeo/Kathu%20Townlands.htm Views of the Kathu Townlands archaeological site]

	~~{{Portal\|South Africa}}~~
	~~{{John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality}}~~
	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	~~[[Category:Populated places in the Gamagara Local Municipality]]~~
	~~[[Category:Mining communities in South Africa~~]]

imported>Guessitsavis: Reverted edits by ~2026-27556-98 (talk): adding non-neutral content (AV)

2026-05-07T17:52:07Z

Reverted edits by ~2026-27556-98 (talk): adding non-neutral content (AV)

New page

{{About||the district in Phuket, Thailand|Amphoe Kathu|the Loloish language in Yunnan, China|Kathu language}}
{{more citations needed|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name = Kathu
| pushpin_map = South Africa Northern Cape#South Africa
| coordinates = {{coord|27|42|S|23|03|E|region:ZA|display=inline,title}}
| subdivision_type = Country
| subdivision_name = [[South Africa]]
| subdivision_type1 = Province
| subdivision_name1 = [[Northern Cape]]
| subdivision_type2 = District
| subdivision_name2 = [[John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality|John Taolo Gaetsewe]]
| subdivision_type3 = Municipality
| subdivision_name3 = [[Gamagara Local Municipality|Gamagara]]
| subdivision_type4 = Main Place
| established_title = Established
| leader_title = Councillor
| area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web |url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/362003 |title = Main Place Kathu |work=Census 2011}}</ref>
| area_total_km2 = 15.56
| population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />
| population_total = 11510
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_density_km2 = auto
| demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011)
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />
| demographics1_title1 = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa|Black African]]
| demographics1_info1 = 39.2%
| demographics1_title2 = [[Coloureds|Coloured]]
| demographics1_info2 = 21.7%
| demographics1_title3 = [[Indian South African|Indian]]/[[Asian South African|Asian]]
| demographics1_info3 = 0.6%
| demographics1_title4 = [[White South African|White]]
| demographics1_info4 = 38.0%
| demographics1_title5 = Other
| demographics1_info5 = 0.6%
| demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s (2011)
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />
| demographics2_title1 = [[Afrikaans]]
| demographics2_info1 = 62.1%
| demographics2_title2 = [[Tswana language|Tswana]]
| demographics2_info2 = 23.4%
| demographics2_title3 = [[South African English|English]]
| demographics2_info3 = 6.0%
| demographics2_title4 = [[Sotho language|Sotho]]
| demographics2_info4 = 1.8%
| demographics2_title5 = Other
| demographics2_info5 = 6.8%

| timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time|SAST]]
| utc_offset1 = +2
| postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in South Africa|Postal code]] (street)
| postal_code = 8446
| postal2_code_type = [[Post-office box|PO box]]
| postal2_code = 8446
| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa|Area code]]
| area_code = 053
}}
'''Kathu''' is a town in [[South Africa]], and the iron ore capital of the [[Northern Cape]] province. Its name means "town under the trees", after the [[Acacia erioloba|Camel Thorn]] forest it is situated in. The phrase "the town under the trees" was coined by an engineer working in the town in the early-1990s as part of a tourist marketing drive, together with the accompanying graphic. It was intended to be a marketing slogan. The meaning of the word "Kathu" has anecdotically been attributed to a porridge brewed by the local population from the powder found in the pods of the Camel Thorn trees.

Kathu was founded in the late-1960s or early-1970s.

Kathu is situated between Upington and Vryburg with about a 2-hour drive to each. Kimberley is a 3-hour drive away, while Kuruman is only 20 minutes away.

==Camel thorn tree forest==
The Camel Thorn tree [http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/acaciaeriol.htm Acacia erioloba] forest is one of only two in the world with the other being between Mariental and Rehoboth in [http://www.namibiatourism.com.na Namibia]. Its unique nature was recognized in the early-1920s when it was declared a State Forest. In 1995 it was registered as a Natural Heritage Site. The [[Kathu Forest]] is approximately 4000 hectares in size and these Camel thorns trees provide support for large Sociable Weaver’s nests and are used by many other bird and animal species. In fact surveys has shown a moderate to high diversity in animal and plant species, including several [http://www.proteaatlas.org.za Red Data], endemic and protected species in and around the forest. Bigger trees in the forest are reckoned to be older than 300 years.

==Mining==
The town and the accompanying industrial area of [[Sishen]] came into being because of [[iron ore]] [[mining]] activity in the [[Kalahari]] — it has one of the five largest [[open-pit mining|open-cast]] iron ore mining operations in the world.{{Citation needed|date=November 2007}} The primary drilling and 'load and haul' mining equipment used by the mine include giant ore trucks that bear about 260 ton of ore with each load. Mining shovels used to load these trucks can weigh in excess of 800 tons and drilling equipment include drills that can drill up to 400 mm holes for blasting purposes. Some of the world's longest ore trains travel through harsh territory on the [[Sishen-Saldanha Railway Line|Sishen-Saldanha railway]] to offload their cargo at [[Saldanha Bay]]. [[Kumba Iron Ore]] is the principal mine operator in Kathu.

==Recreation==
Kathu has a golf course and a small, well-stocked game reserve also adjoins the town.

The town has a well established sporting complex including tennis courts, swimming pool and a golf course. One of the tennis courts is named after veteran tennis player Herta Hegewisch.

==Kathu Archaeological Site Complex==
Significant Stone Age sites occur in and around [[Kathu Archaeological Sites|Kathu]] and on adjacent farms. These are subject to on-going archaeological research.<ref>Beaumont, P.B., 2004. Kathu Pan and Kathu Townlands/Uitkoms. In: Morris, D. & Beaumont, P.B. (Eds.), Archaeology in the Northern Cape: Some Key Sites. Southern African Association for Archaeologists Postconference Excursion, Kimberley, McGregor Museum: pp. 50–53; Chazan, M., Wilkins, J., Morris, D. & Berna, F. 2012. Bestwood 1: a newly discovered Earlier Stone Age living surface near Kathu, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Antiquity 86(331): Antiquity Gallery.; Porat, N., Chazan, M., Grun, R., Aubert, M., Eisenmann, V., Kolska-Horwitz, L. 2009. New radiometric ages for the Fauresmith industry from Kathu Pan, Southern Africa: Implications for the Earlier to Middle Stone Age Transition. Journal of Archaeological Science 37: 269-283; Wilkins, J. & Chazan, M. 2012. Blade production ~500 thousand years ago at Kathu Pan 1, South Africa: support for a multiple origins hypothesis for early Middle Pleistocene blade technology. Journal of Archaeological Science, Available online 4 February 2012.</ref>

The importance of the Kathu Pan site was highlighted in the November 16, 2012 issue of the journal ''Science'' in which Jayne Wilkins and colleagues reveal evidence of 500 000 year-old stone points (excavated by Peter Beaumont in 1979-1982), argued to be the earliest stone-tipped spears yet found. This conclusion, based partly on study of use wear, is taken to indicate that human ancestors used stone-tipped weapons for hunting 200 000 years earlier than previously thought. Wilkins is quoted as saying that the find does more than simply extend the prehistory of stone-tipped spears – it puts those first spears firmly in the hands of ''[[Homo heidelbergensis]]''. "Modern foragers use such tools to take down large game as part of cooperative, strategic hunts. Perhaps our ancestor did so too."<ref>[https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22508-first-stonetipped-spear-thrown-earlier-than-thought.html|NSNS|2012-GLOBAL|online-news First stone-tipped spear thrown earlier than thought]</ref>

Kathu Townlands, one of the richest early prehistoric archaeological sites at Kathu, has produced tens of thousands of Earlier Stone Age artifacts, including hand axes and other tools and estimated to be between 700,000 and one million years old. It is situated between the Kuruman Hills to the east and the Langberge mountains to the west. These discovery was made in 2013 by archaeologists from the [[University of Cape Town]] and the [[University of Toronto]], in collaboration with the [[McGregor Museum]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.science20.com/news_articles/acheulean_artefacts_stone_age_find_in_northern_cape_of_south_africa-141283|title=Acheulean Artefacts: Stone Age Find In Northern Cape Of South Africa|website=Science 2.0|date=July 27, 2014}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061004101014/http://www.kathu-online.co.za/ Official website (Afrikaans)]
* [http://www.kathu.co.za/ Official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516235006/http://www.cope.co.za/archaeo/masterhandaxe.htm Handaxe from Kathu Pan 1 archaeological site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924090153/http://www.cope.co.za/Archaeo/Kathu%20Townlands.htm Views of the Kathu Townlands archaeological site]

{{Portal|South Africa}}
{{John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Populated places in the Gamagara Local Municipality]]
[[Category:Mining communities in South Africa]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:40, 15 June 2026
Line 1:		Line 1:
	~~{{About\|\|the district in Phuket, Thailand\|Amphoe Kathu\|the Loloish language in Yunnan, China\|Kathu language}}~~		#REDIRECT [[Kathu district]]
	~~{{more citations needed\|date=July 2013}}~~
	~~{{Infobox settlement~~
	~~\| name = Kathu~~
	~~\| pushpin_map = South Africa Northern Cape~~#~~South Africa~~
	~~\| coordinates = {{coord\|27\|42\|S\|23\|03\|E\|region:ZA\|display=inline,title}}~~
	~~\| subdivision_type = Country~~
	~~\| subdivision_name = [[South Africa]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type1 = Province~~
	~~\| subdivision_name1 = [[Northern Cape]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type2 = District~~
	~~\| subdivision_name2 = [[John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality\|John Taolo Gaetsewe]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type3 = Municipality~~
	~~\| subdivision_name3 =~~ [[~~Gamagara Local Municipality\|Gamagara]]~~
	~~\| subdivision_type4 = Main Place~~
	~~\| established_title = Established~~
	~~\| leader_title = Councillor~~
	~~\| area_footnotes = <ref name="census2011">{{cite web \|url=http://census2011.adrianfrith.com/place/362003 \|title = Main Place~~ Kathu ~~\|work=Census 2011}}</ref>~~
	~~\| area_total_km2 = 15.56~~
	~~\| population_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />~~
	~~\| population_total = 11510~~
	~~\| population_as_of = 2011~~
	~~\| population_density_km2 = auto~~
	~~<!-- demographics (section 1) -->\| demographics_type1 = Racial makeup (2011)~~
	~~\| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />~~
	~~\| demographics1_title1 = [[Bantu peoples of South Africa\|Black African]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info1 = 39.2%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title2 = [[Coloureds\|Coloured]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info2 = 21.7%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title3 = [[Indian South African\|Indian]]/[[Asian South African\|Asian]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info3 = 0.6%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title4 = [[White South African\|White]]~~
	~~\| demographics1_info4 = 38.0%~~
	~~\| demographics1_title5 = Other~~
	~~\| demographics1_info5 = 0.6%~~
	~~<!-- demographics (section 2) -->\| demographics_type2 = [[First language]]s (2011)~~
	~~\| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="census2011" />~~
	~~\| demographics2_title1 = [[Afrikaans]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info1 = 62.1%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title2 = [[Tswana language\|Tswana]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info2 = 23.4%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title3 = [[South African English\|English]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info3 = 6.0%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title4 = [[Sotho language\|Sotho]]~~
	~~\| demographics2_info4 = 1.8%~~
	~~\| demographics2_title5 = Other~~
	~~\| demographics2_info5 = 6.8%~~
	~~<!-- blank fields (section 2) -->~~
	~~<!-- Other information -->\| timezone1 = [[South African Standard Time\|SAST]]~~
	~~\| utc_offset1 = +2~~
	~~\| postal_code_type = [[List of postal codes in South Africa\|Postal code]] (street)~~
	~~\| postal_code = 8446~~
	~~\| postal2_code_type = [[Post-office box\|PO box]]~~
	~~\| postal2_code = 8446~~
	~~\| area_code_type = [[Telephone numbers in South Africa\|Area code]]~~
	~~\| area_code = 053~~
	}}
	'''Kathu''' is a town in [[South Africa]], and the iron ore capital of the [[Northern Cape]] province. Its name means "town under the trees",<!-- in what language? --> after the [[Acacia erioloba\|Camel Thorn]] forest it is situated in. The phrase "the town under the trees" was coined by an engineer working in the town in the early-1990s as part of a tourist marketing drive, together with the accompanying graphic. It was intended to be a marketing slogan. The meaning of the word "Kathu" has anecdotically been attributed to a porridge brewed by the local population from the powder found in the pods of the Camel Thorn trees.

	~~Kathu was founded in the late-1960s or early-1970s.~~

	~~Kathu is situated between Upington and Vryburg with about a 2-hour drive to each. Kimberley is a 3-hour drive away, while Kuruman is only 20 minutes away.~~

	~~==Camel thorn tree forest==~~
	The Camel Thorn tree [http://www.plantzafrica.com/plantab/acaciaeriol.htm Acacia erioloba] forest is one of only two in the world with the other being between Mariental and Rehoboth in [http://www.namibiatourism.com.na Namibia]. Its unique nature was recognized in the early-1920s when it was declared a State Forest. In 1995 it was registered as a Natural Heritage Site. The [[Kathu Forest]] is approximately 4000 hectares in size and these Camel thorns trees provide support for large Sociable Weaver’s nests and are used by many other bird and animal species. In fact surveys has shown a moderate to high diversity in animal and plant species, including several [http://www.proteaatlas.org.za Red Data], endemic and protected species in and around the forest. Bigger trees in the forest are reckoned to be older than 300 years.

	~~==Mining==~~
	The town and the accompanying industrial area of [[Sishen]] came into being because of [[iron ore]] [[mining]] activity in the [[Kalahari]] — it has one of the five largest [[open-pit mining\|open-cast]] iron ore mining operations in the world.{{Citation needed\|date=November 2007}} The primary drilling and 'load and haul' mining equipment used by the mine include giant ore trucks that bear about 260 ton of ore with each load. Mining shovels used to load these trucks can weigh in excess of 800 tons and drilling equipment include drills that can drill up to 400 mm holes for blasting purposes. Some of the world's longest ore trains travel through harsh territory on the [[Sishen-Saldanha Railway Line\|Sishen-Saldanha railway]] to offload their cargo at [[Saldanha Bay]]. [[Kumba Iron Ore]] is the principal mine operator in Kathu.

	~~==Recreation==~~
	~~Kathu has a golf course and a small, well-stocked game reserve also adjoins the town.~~

	~~The town has a well established sporting complex including tennis courts, swimming pool and a golf course. One of the tennis courts is named after veteran tennis player Herta Hegewisch.~~

	~~==Kathu Archaeological Site Complex==~~
	Significant Stone Age sites occur in and around [[Kathu Archaeological Sites\|Kathu]] and on adjacent farms. These are subject to on-going archaeological research.<ref>Beaumont, P.B., 2004. Kathu Pan and Kathu Townlands/Uitkoms. In: Morris, D. & Beaumont, P.B. (Eds.), Archaeology in the Northern Cape: Some Key Sites. Southern African Association for Archaeologists Postconference Excursion, Kimberley, McGregor Museum: pp. 50–53; Chazan, M., Wilkins, J., Morris, D. & Berna, F. 2012. Bestwood 1: a newly discovered Earlier Stone Age living surface near Kathu, Northern Cape Province, South Africa. Antiquity 86(331): Antiquity Gallery.; Porat, N., Chazan, M., Grun, R., Aubert, M., Eisenmann, V., Kolska-Horwitz, L. 2009. New radiometric ages for the Fauresmith industry from Kathu Pan, Southern Africa: Implications for the Earlier to Middle Stone Age Transition. Journal of Archaeological Science 37: 269-283; Wilkins, J. & Chazan, M. 2012. Blade production ~500 thousand years ago at Kathu Pan 1, South Africa: support for a multiple origins hypothesis for early Middle Pleistocene blade technology. Journal of Archaeological Science, Available online 4 February 2012.</ref>

	The importance of the Kathu Pan site was highlighted in the November 16, 2012 issue of the journal ''Science'' in which Jayne Wilkins and colleagues reveal evidence of 500 000 year-old stone points (excavated by Peter Beaumont in 1979-1982), argued to be the earliest stone-tipped spears yet found. This conclusion, based partly on study of use wear, is taken to indicate that human ancestors used stone-tipped weapons for hunting 200 000 years earlier than previously thought. Wilkins is quoted as saying that the find does more than simply extend the prehistory of stone-tipped spears – it puts those first spears firmly in the hands of ''[[Homo heidelbergensis]]''. "Modern foragers use such tools to take down large game as part of cooperative, strategic hunts. Perhaps our ancestor did so too."<ref>[https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn22508-first-stonetipped-spear-thrown-earlier-than-thought.html\|NSNS\|2012-GLOBAL\|online-news First stone-tipped spear thrown earlier than thought]</ref>

	Kathu Townlands, one of the richest early prehistoric archaeological sites at Kathu, has produced tens of thousands of Earlier Stone Age artifacts, including hand axes and other tools and estimated to be between 700,000 and one million years old. It is situated between the Kuruman Hills to the east and the Langberge mountains to the west. These discovery was made in 2013 by archaeologists from the [[University of Cape Town]] and the [[University of Toronto]], in collaboration with the [[McGregor Museum]].<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://www.science20.com/news_articles/acheulean_artefacts_stone_age_find_in_northern_cape_of_south_africa-141283\|title=Acheulean Artefacts: Stone Age Find In Northern Cape Of South Africa\|website=Science 2.0\|date=July 27, 2014}}</ref>

	~~==References==~~
	~~{{Reflist}}~~

	~~==External links==~~
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20061004101014/http://www.kathu-online.co.za/ Official website (Afrikaans)]
	* [http://www.kathu.co.za/ Official website]
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060516235006/http://www.cope.co.za/archaeo/masterhandaxe.htm Handaxe from Kathu Pan 1 archaeological site]
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060924090153/http://www.cope.co.za/Archaeo/Kathu%20Townlands.htm Views of the Kathu Townlands archaeological site]

	~~{{Portal\|South Africa}}~~
	~~{{John Taolo Gaetsewe District Municipality}}~~
	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	~~[[Category:Populated places in the Gamagara Local Municipality]]~~
	~~[[Category:Mining communities in South Africa~~]]