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A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches
Sorghum and millets were the principal grain crops of sub-Saharan African farming societies. Enquiry into their isotopic variability is scant and some of the work that has been done is based on studies in highly controlled, artificial environments. To help fill this gap, the present study investigat...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | Eng |
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Department of Archaeology
2024
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| _version_ | 1867613343223644160 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Masemula, Nandi |
| author2 | Sealy, Judith |
| author_browse | Masemula, Nandi Sealy, Judith |
| author_facet | Sealy, Judith Masemula, Nandi |
| author_sort | Masemula, Nandi |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | Sorghum and millets were the principal grain crops of sub-Saharan African farming societies. Enquiry into their isotopic variability is scant and some of the work that has been done is based on studies in highly controlled, artificial environments. To help fill this gap, the present study investigates the variation in δ13C and δ15N in three varieties of sorghum, mshalane, 236 and 308. These were cultivated at four localities in different regions of Eswatini and South Africa, either by small-scale traditional farmers or in accordance with their methods. In addition, this study includes carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of archaeological sorghum grains from the mid-19th century Historic Cave siege site. The study also explores the impact that choice of agricultural practices and methods of grain storage and food preparation may have on the δ13C and δ15N values of sorghum. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 contemporary small-scale agriculturalists from eastern Eswatini. The range of δ13C values in the contemporary-grown sorghum from summerrainfall regions of South Africa is 1.7‰ (n=90), and the mshalane variety shows the greatest sensitivity to environmental variation. Archaeological sorghum grains from Historic Cave yield δ13C values approximately 1.1‰ less negative than contemporary-grown sorghum (after correction for variation in atmospheric δ13C), which likely reflects particular agricultural practices and/or the cultivation of sorghum varieties with characteristically higher δ13C values by the Kekana Ndebele. The range of δ15N values in both contemporary (5.4‰, n=90) and archaeological (8.7‰, n=11) sorghum is larger than that usually attributed to a single trophic level, with significant implications for the interpretation of δ15N in consumers. Some methods of sorghum storage and preparation involve fermentation, which may increase isotopic variation further. These results will contribute towards achieving improved isotope-based dietary reconstructions in African Iron Age farming communities. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/39644 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | Eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:34:38.153Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2024 |
| publishDateRange | 2024 |
| publishDateSort | 2024 |
| publisher | Department of Archaeology |
| publisherStr | Department of Archaeology |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/39644 A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches Masemula, Nandi Sealy, Judith Archaeology Sorghum and millets were the principal grain crops of sub-Saharan African farming societies. Enquiry into their isotopic variability is scant and some of the work that has been done is based on studies in highly controlled, artificial environments. To help fill this gap, the present study investigates the variation in δ13C and δ15N in three varieties of sorghum, mshalane, 236 and 308. These were cultivated at four localities in different regions of Eswatini and South Africa, either by small-scale traditional farmers or in accordance with their methods. In addition, this study includes carbon and nitrogen isotopic analysis of archaeological sorghum grains from the mid-19th century Historic Cave siege site. The study also explores the impact that choice of agricultural practices and methods of grain storage and food preparation may have on the δ13C and δ15N values of sorghum. To this end, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 18 contemporary small-scale agriculturalists from eastern Eswatini. The range of δ13C values in the contemporary-grown sorghum from summerrainfall regions of South Africa is 1.7‰ (n=90), and the mshalane variety shows the greatest sensitivity to environmental variation. Archaeological sorghum grains from Historic Cave yield δ13C values approximately 1.1‰ less negative than contemporary-grown sorghum (after correction for variation in atmospheric δ13C), which likely reflects particular agricultural practices and/or the cultivation of sorghum varieties with characteristically higher δ13C values by the Kekana Ndebele. The range of δ15N values in both contemporary (5.4‰, n=90) and archaeological (8.7‰, n=11) sorghum is larger than that usually attributed to a single trophic level, with significant implications for the interpretation of δ15N in consumers. Some methods of sorghum storage and preparation involve fermentation, which may increase isotopic variation further. These results will contribute towards achieving improved isotope-based dietary reconstructions in African Iron Age farming communities. 2024-05-17T09:51:35Z 2024-05-17T09:51:35Z 2023 2024-05-16T10:01:26Z Thesis / Dissertation Doctoral PhD http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39644 Eng application/pdf Department of Archaeology Faculty of Science |
| spellingShingle | Archaeology Masemula, Nandi A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches |
| thesis_degree_str | Doctoral |
| title | A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches |
| title_full | A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches |
| title_fullStr | A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches |
| title_full_unstemmed | A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches |
| title_short | A study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in Southern Africa: combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches |
| title_sort | study of indigenous sorghum agriculture in southern africa combining isotope and indigenous knowledge systems approaches |
| topic | Archaeology |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/39644 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT masemulanandi astudyofindigenoussorghumagricultureinsouthernafricacombiningisotopeandindigenousknowledgesystemsapproaches AT masemulanandi studyofindigenoussorghumagricultureinsouthernafricacombiningisotopeandindigenousknowledgesystemsapproaches |