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Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe
Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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University of Pretoria
2026
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| _version_ | 1867613507659235328 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author2 | Pikirayi, Innocent |
| author_browse | Pikirayi, Innocent |
| author_facet | Pikirayi, Innocent |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | © 2024 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)--University of Pretoria, 2018. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:repository.up.ac.za:2263/107655 |
| institution | University of Pretoria (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:37:15.129Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UPSpace — University of Pretoria Institutional Repository |
| publishDate | 2026 |
| publishDateRange | 2026 |
| publishDateSort | 2026 |
| 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:2263/107655 Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe Pikirayi, Innocent innocent.pikirayi@up.ac.za Machiridza, Lesley Hatipone UCTD Cultural complexity Torwa Rozvi Ethnicity Khami-phase Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2018. The archaeological identity of several Khami-phase sites (AD 1400-1830), especially those situated to the east of the Khami capital in the Insiza district, has always been a subject of great speculation. In particular, questions about their development, the identity of dynastic groups that inspired their general rise and spread, as well as the possible existence of evidence of changeover between the Torwa and Rozvi phases have always featured at the core of archaeological enquiry. This study, therefore, sought to define the archaeological identity of the Rozvi in south-western Zimbabwe by comparatively analysing material culture from Danamombe, Naletale and Zinjanja sites. In order to gather data, surveys, excavations and a rigorous review of Torwa and Rozvi oral and documentary sources was undertaken. It turned out that a combination of both physiographic and sociological factors gradually shaped the evolution of cultural complexity in south-western Zimbabwe. In addition, the sample of Khami-phase sites targeted for study shared a lot in common; they were all contemporary and their stratigraphic profiles revealed an unbroken cultural sequence. Since the bulk of material culture recovered from the three research sites remained stylistically unchanged through time, it was only the associated radiocarbon dates that provided clear-cut avenues to demarcate Torwa from Rozvi occupational phases. This general continuity in stylistic patterns either implies that Rozvi agents simply chose to promote group solidarity by maintaining old Torwa traditions or material culture typologies by themselves are too rigid to reflect dynamic social processes. Although numerous ethnohistoric sources emphasised that Rozvi identities were situationally expressed through the objectification of multiple tangible and intangible “things” scattered across the Zimbabwean landscape, the diagnosis of these ethnic symbols from Khami-phase sites nominated for study was never really straightforward. FUNDING : I am also grateful to the Research Board Committee at the Great Zimbabwe University (GZU) for financial grants rendered towards the pursuit of my studies. Although a lot more was expected, those finances received certainly made a difference. Anthropology, Archaeology and Development Studies PhD (Thesis) Restricted Faculty of Humanities SDG-17: Partnerships for the goals 2026-01-28T09:06:01Z 2026-01-28T09:06:01Z 2019-02-06 2018-08 Thesis * A2019 http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107655 N/A en © 2024 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 Cultural complexity Torwa Rozvi Ethnicity Khami-phase Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe |
| title | Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Archaeology of the Rovzi : toward a historical archaeology of South-Western Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | archaeology of the rovzi toward a historical archaeology of south western zimbabwe |
| topic | UCTD Cultural complexity Torwa Rozvi Ethnicity Khami-phase |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/2263/107655 |