Mapungubwe — Hill Ancillary Midden Terrace (Limpopo)
Mapungubwe Midden Terrace
Bronze Age to Classical (3000 BCE–500 CE)·Bronze Age urban·🇿🇦 Limpopo, Mapungubwe, South Africa
About
About Mapungubwe — Hill Ancillary Midden Terrace (Limpopo)
Mapungubwe — Hill Ancillary Midden Terrace (Limpopo) in Limpopo, Mapungubwe, South Africa is a Bronze Age to Classical (3000 BCE–500 CE) ancient city attributed to Bronze Age urban. Systematic survey and coring document stratified deposits. The site includes a principal necropolis and ancillary settlement. Dimensions city wall circuit 1.2 km; area 18 ha; area unmeasured ha. Excavation partially-excavated; condition ruins. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze Age urban ancient-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 700 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Function and labor organization
- 02Relation to regional network
Theories
- 01Ritual landscape model
- 02Ceremonial centre
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 2500 BCE
- Period
- Bronze Age to Classical (3000 BCE–500 CE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age urban
- Purpose
- Urban centre with palace and temple precinct
- Rediscovered
- 1886
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 2500 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1008 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1915
Modern rediscovery and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
22.2100° S · 29.4000° E · 700 m · 3 mapped features
Principal Monument
structurePrincipal Monument at Mapungubwe — Hill Ancillary Midden Terrace (Limpopo) — structure with stratified deposits
22.2099° S · 29.3977° EAncillary Complex
complexAncillary Complex at Mapungubwe — Hill Ancillary Midden Terrace (Limpopo) — complex with stratified deposits
22.2089° S · 29.3977° EOutlier Feature
outlierOutlier Feature at Mapungubwe — Hill Ancillary Midden Terrace (Limpopo) — outlier with stratified deposits
22.2079° S · 29.4002° E