Mapungubwe
Encyclopedia
After Mapungubwe's fall, it was forgotten until 1932. On New Year's Eve
1932, E. S. J. van Graan, a local farmer and prospector, and his son, a former student of the University of Pretoria
, discovered the wealth of artifacts on top of the hill. They reported the find to Professor Leo Fouché of the University of Pretoria, paving the way for excavations that continue to this day. Although the University of Pretoria excavated the site ever since 1932 it was kept top secret. According to an article published in 1985: translated from the Afrikaans text: Remains of a Rock Fort located on top of the hill, where under investigation, dated back to the 11th century. Archeological site is closed to the public, however some of the items discovered where on display at the Department of Archeology, at the University of Pretoria. Mapungubwe Hill and K2 were declared national monuments in the 1980s. Until 2002 when the University of Pretoria was under going renovations that a large number of the artifacts collected where subsequently found locked away and forgotten in a storage room, the architect contracted to do the renovations at the University of Pretoria, Mr Moorrees Janse van Rensburg came across this room and had to break through the door as the keys were nowhere to be found and no one had any knowledge of what was in the room. It appeared that this was a secret that was purposely withheld from the South African public.
When Mr van Rensburg broke the door open he found a room filled with small boxes, in those boxes were priceless gold artifacts that came from the original site. It is still a mystery how these artifacts ended up at the University and when they arrived, but the fact remains that these were deliberately kept from the public eye.
The artifacts found dated from approximately 1000 AD to 1300 AD and consisted of a variety of materials such as pottery, trade glass beads, Chinese celadon
ware, gold ornaments (including the famous golden rhino), ceramic figurines, organic remains, crafted ivory and bone and refined copper and iron.
The Mapungubwe Landscape was declared a World Heritage Site on 3 July 2003.
, which with the Tuli Block
(Botswana
) and the Tuli Safari area (Zimbabwe
), forms part of the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area, now officially known as Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
.
New Year's Eve
New Year's Eve is observed annually on December 31, the final day of any given year in the Gregorian calendar. In modern societies, New Year's Eve is often celebrated at social gatherings, during which participants dance, eat, consume alcoholic beverages, and watch or light fireworks to mark the...
1932, E. S. J. van Graan, a local farmer and prospector, and his son, a former student of the University of Pretoria
University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
, discovered the wealth of artifacts on top of the hill. They reported the find to Professor Leo Fouché of the University of Pretoria, paving the way for excavations that continue to this day. Although the University of Pretoria excavated the site ever since 1932 it was kept top secret. According to an article published in 1985: translated from the Afrikaans text: Remains of a Rock Fort located on top of the hill, where under investigation, dated back to the 11th century. Archeological site is closed to the public, however some of the items discovered where on display at the Department of Archeology, at the University of Pretoria. Mapungubwe Hill and K2 were declared national monuments in the 1980s. Until 2002 when the University of Pretoria was under going renovations that a large number of the artifacts collected where subsequently found locked away and forgotten in a storage room, the architect contracted to do the renovations at the University of Pretoria, Mr Moorrees Janse van Rensburg came across this room and had to break through the door as the keys were nowhere to be found and no one had any knowledge of what was in the room. It appeared that this was a secret that was purposely withheld from the South African public.
When Mr van Rensburg broke the door open he found a room filled with small boxes, in those boxes were priceless gold artifacts that came from the original site. It is still a mystery how these artifacts ended up at the University and when they arrived, but the fact remains that these were deliberately kept from the public eye.
The artifacts found dated from approximately 1000 AD to 1300 AD and consisted of a variety of materials such as pottery, trade glass beads, Chinese celadon
Celadon
Celadon is a term for ceramics denoting both a type of glaze and a ware of a specific color, also called celadon. This type of ware was invented in ancient China, such as in the Zhejiang province...
ware, gold ornaments (including the famous golden rhino), ceramic figurines, organic remains, crafted ivory and bone and refined copper and iron.
The Mapungubwe Landscape was declared a World Heritage Site on 3 July 2003.
Mapungubwe National Park
The area is now part of Mapungubwe National ParkMapungubwe National Park
Mapungubwe National Park is a national park in Limpopo Province, South Africa, located near the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. It abuts on the border with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and forms part of the proposed Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area. It was established in 1995...
, which with the Tuli Block
Tuli Block
The Tuli Block is a long, thin fringe of land demarcating Botswana's southeastern border. The Tuli consists mainly of privately owned game farms, offering spectacular safari tourism. The eastern section up to and including Redshield has been declared a game reserve, known as the Northern Tuli Game...
(Botswana
Botswana
Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana , is a landlocked country located in Southern Africa. The citizens are referred to as "Batswana" . Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent within the Commonwealth on 30 September 1966...
) and the Tuli Safari area (Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
), forms part of the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area, now officially known as Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area
Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area Is a cultural TFCA. Formerly known as the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area.-See also:*Mapungubwe National Park*The Mapungubwe World Heritage Site...
.
See also
- ButuaButuaThe Kingdom of Butua or Butwa was a pre-colonial African state located in what is now southwestern Zimbabwe. Butua was renowned as the source of gold for Arab and Portuguese traders. The region was first mentioned in Portuguese records in 1512.The kingdom was governed by the Torwa dynasty until...
- Rozvi/Rozwi/Lozwi
- baKalangaBaKalangaThe Kalanga, also known as the Bakalanga are one of the first Bantu speaking tribes to migrate to present day Botswana, followed by the Bakgalagadi and then the Batswana . The Kalanga had first settled in Mapungubwe in South Africa, the first Kalanga state. They later moved to the Great Zimbabwe...
- Mapungubwe MuseumMapungubwe MuseumThe Mapungubwe Museumat the University of Pretoria houses the national treasures of Mapungubwe, South Africa, a 13th century Iron Age site in the Limpopo Valley and a World Heritage Site...
- Mapungubwe National ParkMapungubwe National ParkMapungubwe National Park is a national park in Limpopo Province, South Africa, located near the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers. It abuts on the border with Botswana and Zimbabwe, and forms part of the proposed Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area. It was established in 1995...
- Order of MapungubweOrder of MapungubweThe Order of Mapungubwe is South Africa's highest honour. It was instituted on 6 December 2002, and is granted by the president of South Africa, for achievements in the international area which have served South Africa's interests...
- Thuli Parks and Wildlife LandThuli Parks and Wildlife LandThuli Parks and Wildlife Land is a protected area in south-western Zimbabwe. It comprises four areas within the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Estate and covers the entire west bank of the Shashe River within the Thuli Circle....
- History of South AfricaHistory of South AfricaSouth African history has been dominated by the interaction and conflict of several diverse ethnic groups. The aboriginal Khoisan people have lived in the region for millennia. Most of the population, however, trace their history to immigration since...
- Kingdom of ZimbabweKingdom of ZimbabweThe Kingdom of Zimbabwe was a kingdom located in the territory of modern-day Zimbabwe. It is famous for its capital, Great Zimbabwe, the largest stone structure in Southern Africa until recent times.- Name :...
- Great ZimbabweGreat ZimbabweGreat Zimbabwe is a ruined city that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which existed from 1100 to 1450 C.E. during the country’s Late Iron Age. The monument, which first began to be constructed in the 11th century and which continued to be built until the 14th century, spanned an...
- Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation AreaGreater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation AreaGreater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area Is a cultural TFCA. Formerly known as the Limpopo-Shashe Transfrontier Conservation Area.-See also:*Mapungubwe National Park*The Mapungubwe World Heritage Site...
External links
- Mapungubwe Collection on UPSpace, the research repository of the University of Pretoria
- Mapungubwe Museum website, University of PretoriaUniversity of PretoriaThe University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
- Mapungubwe in Aluka and JSTOR's African Cultural Heritage Sites and Landscapes collection
- Mapungubwe National Park
- Mapungubwe - discusses cultural aspects, as well as how to get there
- "Mapungubwe: SA's lost city of gold" - article about Mapungubwe's history
- Thulamela, Ancient Kingdom