Nabta Playa Calendar Extension — Limpopo (Polokwane)
Nabta Playa Calendar Extension Site
Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BCE)·Iron Age·🇿🇦 Limpopo, South Africa
About
About Nabta Playa Calendar Extension — Limpopo (Polokwane)
Nabta Playa Calendar Extension in Limpopo, South Africa is a Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BCE) buried city attributed to Iron Age culture. Systematic survey and LiDAR document architectural phasing and stratified deposits. The site includes a principal enclosure and ancillary features with votive deposits. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Iron Age site illustrating Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BCE) buried-city traditions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Nabta Playa Calendar Extension
- 02Function of ancillary enclosures
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for Iron Age
- 02Defensive and ritual focus
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. 800 BCE
- Period
- Early Bronze Age (3000–2000 BCE)
- Culture
- Iron Age
- Purpose
- Agricultural and hydraulic centre
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 800 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1000 CE
Abandonment or reuse
On the ground
Structures & features
23.2277° S · 28.8615° E · 37 m · 3 mapped features
Nabta Playa Calendar Extension — Principal Feature
structurePrimary buried-city feature at Nabta Playa Calendar Extension
23.2269° S · 28.8623° ENabta Playa Calendar Extension — Ancillary Complex
complexAncillary complex at Nabta Playa Calendar Extension
23.2284° S · 28.8609° ENabta Playa Calendar Extension — Outlier
rock artOutlier at Nabta Playa Calendar Extension
23.2266° S · 28.8605° E