Peter Clarence van Riet Lowe, archaeologist and civil engineer who built 109 bridges in SA, is born in Aliwal North, CC.

Updated: 30 Sep 2019

Clarence van Riet Lowe was born on 4 November 1894 in Aliwal North, Eastern Cape. A civil engineer by profession, Clarence was in charge of construction of over a hundred bridges in South Africa. It was during the construction of the bridges that he discovered over 300 prehistoric sites. This led to a change of career from civil engineering to archeology for Lowe. By 1935, Lowe was well known both locally and abroad as a leading archeologist. He was honored greatly for his service to the discipline. He died on in 1956 in Knysna.

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01The African Rock Art Digital Archive Clarence van Riet Lowe [online] Available at: www.sarada.co.za [Accessed on 29 October 2012]
02South Africa. Info Cave of Hearths: Stone Age Sequence [online] Available at: www.southafrica.com [Accessed on 29 October 2012]

Last updated · 30 Sep 2019

Cite this entry

South African History Online. (2011, November 1). Peter Clarence van Riet Lowe, archaeologist and civil engineer who built 109 bridges in SA, is born in Aliwal North, CC.. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0069077

South African History Online (2011) 'Peter Clarence van Riet Lowe, archaeologist and civil engineer who built 109 bridges in SA, is born in Aliwal North, CC.', South African History Online, 1 November. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0069077 (Accessed: 19 August 2026).

South African History Online, Peter Clarence van Riet Lowe, archaeologist and civil engineer who built 109 bridges in SA, is born in Aliwal North, CC. [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0069077, (accessed 19 August 2026).

"Peter Clarence van Riet Lowe, archaeologist and civil engineer who built 109 bridges in SA, is born in Aliwal North, CC.." South African History Online, 1 Nov. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0069077. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

South African History Online. "Peter Clarence van Riet Lowe, archaeologist and civil engineer who built 109 bridges in SA, is born in Aliwal North, CC.." South African History Online. November 1, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0069077.