Unlawful mining has been stopped by the Northern Cape High Court at the country's oldest dated archaeological site. Canteen Kopje‚ a National Heritage Site at Barkley West‚ was extensively damaged when alluvial mining operations got underway there on March 18.There was an outcry from the McGregor Museum‚ Wits University and international archaeologists. The site boasts a Stone Age history stretching back some 2.3-million years.South Africa: Outrage over mining at Canteen Kopje world heritage site https://t.co/RDIXxOAiScpic.twitter.com/b0hwni36vM — Donna Yates (@DrDonnaYates) March 22, 2016async Urgent legal interventions by law firm Norton Rose Fulbright‚ Wits and the McGregor Museum resulted in a temporary halt to mining operations by mining firm‚ Jacki M Wessi Mining. The interdict was made a permanent order of court on Tuesday.Professor David Morris‚ head of archaeology at the McGregor Museum‚ said: “This is a victory not just for Canteen Kopje. This interdict upholds the provisions of the National Heritage Resources Act and the procedures it requires.#SouthAfrican scientists oppose mining near Canteen Kopje #heritage site https://t.co/EtPgazGZo4pic.twitter.com/XcjhAhKMoT— MINE Magazine (@MINE_Magazine) March 21, 2016async “We came perilously close to a discrediting of authorities and laws which would have set a dangerous precedent for South African heritage as a whole.”A second legal process is underway where the museum as well as Wits and the Sol Plaatje University are requesting a review of the decisions made by the Department of Mineral Resources to grant a mining permit for a heritage site‚ Wits said in a statement.Canteen Kopje. This is the destruction caused over night @carteblanchetv@DerekWatts@eNCA@News24@SABCNewsOnlinepic.twitter.com/Lfa5bPbHmD — Tim Forssman (@Tim4sman) March 19, 2016async The Department of Mineral Resources‚ the South African Heritage Resources Agency (Sahra) and the South African Police Services were co-respondents with the mining company‚ but decided to abide by the decision of the high court and to not oppose the museum’s application for a final court order.The mining that was allowed to go ahead left a gaping hole in the middle of the site‚ with artefacts strewn across the damaged surface.The national and international archaeological fraternity rallied quickly and addressed letters to the Department of Arts and Culture and Sahra‚ calling for the mining to be stopped.Sol Plaatje and Wits added their voices‚ as did the South African San Council and the South African National Civic Organisation. – TMG Digital/Sunday Times..