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An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa
Thesis (PhD (Archaeology))--University of Pretoria, 2024.
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University of Pretoria
2025
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| _version_ | 1867613612172902400 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Antonites, Alexander |
| author_browse | Antonites, Alexander |
| author_facet | Antonites, Alexander |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. |
| description | Thesis (PhD (Archaeology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/100859 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:38:54.752Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| publishDateRange | 2025 |
| publishDateSort | 2025 |
| publisher | University of Pretoria |
| publisherStr | University of Pretoria |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| spelling | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/100859 An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa Antonites, Alexander biansteyn@gmail.com Steyn, Bianca UCTD Archaeology Phytoliths Iron Age Macrobotanicals Mapungubwe Thesis (PhD (Archaeology))--University of Pretoria, 2024. The Middle Iron Age (MIA), c, 900 to 1300 AD, is a period associated with agro-pastoralists, people who practiced agriculture and kept stock animals in north-east South Africa. Most of the studies on the MIA have been concerned with large sites in the Shashe Limpopo Confluence Area (SLCA) such as Mapungubwe. While an increasing number of studies are looking at MIA sites outside the SLCA, little is known about how agriculture was managed or which wild plants were exploited during the MIA. The limited research that has been undertaken on MIA agriculture has largely been focused on using macrobotanical material which is dependent on fire for preservation. It is unknown whether phytoliths were preserved at MIA sites (Biagetti 2020, pers. comm). As such, this dissertation examined three MIA sites Mutamba (MUT), Vryheid (MNR 04) and Frampton 1 (MNR 074) located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa in order to first, ascertain the presence of phytoliths at MIA sites, and second, to determine agricultural practices and third, to determine if there is any differences in wild taxa utilised. Analysis on phytolith material found that phytoliths were present at each of the three sites. Analysis of macrobotanical material found a wide variety of crop and wild taxa at the sites. It was theorized that two of the sites, Mutamba (MUT) and Vryheid (MNR 04) practiced floodplain and dryland agriculture while the Frampton 1 (MNR 074) was most likely a temporary stock post. A number of wild taxa was also identified at the sites. These taxa held multiple purposes (food, medicine etc.). Overall, there does not appear to be an overwhelming difference of wild taxa utilised at these three sites. National Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS) Anthropology, Archaeology and Development Studies PhD (Archaeology) Unrestricted Faculty of Humanities 2025-02-13T14:19:36Z 2025-02-13T14:19:36Z 2025-09 2024 Thesis * S2025 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100859 10.25403/UPresearchdata.28408892 en © 2023 University of Pretoria. All rights reserved. The copyright in this work vests in the University of Pretoria. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the University of Pretoria. application/pdf University of Pretoria |
| spellingShingle | UCTD Archaeology Phytoliths Iron Age Macrobotanicals Mapungubwe An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa |
| title | An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_full | An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_fullStr | An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_full_unstemmed | An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_short | An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa |
| title_sort | archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century mapungubwe era settlements in limpopo south africa |
| topic | UCTD Archaeology Phytoliths Iron Age Macrobotanicals Mapungubwe |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/100859 |