First Settlements in the Limpopo Valley Flashcards
How many years ago did the first farmers move from Northern Parts of Africa into Southern Africa?
2000 years ago
What did they bring with them?
herds of animals, crops and skills required to make iron
What did they use iron for?
farming tools, like hoes
weapons
ornaments
How does archaeologists know this about these people?
They found many clues
What did archaeologists call this period?
Iron Age
From which year to year did things started to change and certain settlements developed into big rich African cities
AD 900 to AD 1300
Big rich African cities developed because?
was enough food people to grow food people to look after cattle people who made goods and tools to trade they were in an area that was close enough to the coast for trading
Archaeologists discovered the remains of three Capital cities in the Limpopo Basin - the Middle Iron Age - which 3 cities?
Schroda (AD900-1000)
K2 (AD900-1220)
Mapungubwe (AD1220-1300)
Explain what we know about the Schroda people?
Existed more than 1000 years ago
More than just farmers
Also miners, metalworkers, builders and traders
They collected and stored gold and ivory
They traded often for beads and cloth like silk and cotton
Why was Ivory a valuable material?
It was soft enough to carve and yet strong enough to use as spoons, combs or knitting needles.
Is it now legal or illegal to trade in ivory?
Illegal
What did Archaeological excavations at Schroda uncovered?
Exotic glass beads
Ivory
Pottery
Large collection of animals, human and fantasy creature figures
Name 3 animals found in carvings?
Giraffe, elephant, eland
At the beginning of the 13th Century, the largest settlement was situated at
K2
How many people lived at K2
about 1500 people
What did archaeological excavations at K2 uncover?
iron bangles round and square wire glass beads pendants cattle bone fragments remarkable knife with an ivory handle
For how many years were K2 the capital?
about 200 years from AD900 - AD 1220
How was the settlements arranged in K2?
Arranged around a central area (kraal) where the cattle were kept.
Chief lived on western edge
When did the K2 ceased being the capital? What became the capital?
about 1220
Mapungubwe became the new capital
What is the “Hill of the Jackals”?
In Limpopo Province near Limpopo River
A hill called Mapungubwe, which means Hill of the Jackals
Venda people live near it today
They believe it is a forbidden place which is sacred to their ancestors
In which year did prospectors found treasure on the top of the hill?
1932
Since 1932 archaeologists have been excavating in the area, uncovering many
artefacts
They have also started to dig underground to find things
What did the South African government unofficially declare in 1934?
Declared Mapungubwe hill as a protected heritage site
Who uncovered Mapungubwe in 1932?
Jerry van Graan
Who was the guide in 1932 when Mapungubwe was discovered?
Mowena
