Mapungubwe That Makes The Limpopo The Great North, South Africa

The Limpopo is also called the Great North. On the surface it is a broad boundless area, a landscape tanning itself in the heat of the African sun. However look beyond its obvious beauty and see the interests and entertainments in generous amounts in the form of those things that every visitor to the province should see, do or experience.

These icons consist of living cultures, ancient places, nature reserves and national parks, trees, myths and legends, things to do and things to experience but all of them will leave the visitor with a greater insight into what makes the Limpopo the Great North.

Mapungubwe is truly one of the most remarkable icons of the Limpopo and is currently drawing international attention. Situated at the confluence of the Shashi and Limpopo Rivers, where Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa meet, it forms the centre of a very important trans-frontier park, creating living space so urgently needed for the free roaming elephant population in southern Botswana. However due to its unique and significant history, it is in the process of becoming a World Heritage site.

What is Mapungubwe?

Mapungubwe is a flat-topped hill close to the flood plains if the Limpopo River. The name meaning "the Hill of Jackals" and reflects the fact that the first kingdom in Southern Africa was actually situated here.

This site only recently came to the world's attention when golden artefacts were found in the are by some of the local farmers and one of the children, a student of the University of Pretoria, informed his Professor in Archaeology about their find in 1932. However it is said the "Wild" Lotrie, a guide of the legendary Dr David Livingstone, has discovered this site much earlier.

After scientific study carbon dating tests revealed that Mapungubwe to have been the forerunner to, what is currently known as, the Great Zimbabwe ruins. People occupied the area since 850 AD but the top of the hill was only occupied from 1000 to 1200 AD. This is about two and a half centuries before Great Zimbabwe.

It is generally thought that this settlement and the subsequent kingdom evolved due to the trading that started with east Africa. Suddenly people had a vested interest in an area, in routes and in commodities and therefore allegiances were formed, political affiliations formed and an economy started. This was seen as the change from Early Iron Age to Middle Iron Age in Southern Africa.

Mapungubwe became the capital of such a newly formed state with a complex hierarchy, which had a marked difference from the simple social structures that characterised Iron Age communities on the subcontinent up till then. It also heralded the new era where the king became the political, economic and spiritual leader in the community.

The most significant find at Mapungubwe was a gold rhinoceros and a gold bowl dating back to around 1200 AD. This together with the other finds led to the believe that the people living at Mapungubwe mastered the gold-working techniques including gold-plating – using gold sheeting to cover carved wooden items and securing it with gold tacks. According to some experts, this is the earliest site where gold working took place. Therefore it is not insignificant that early Islamic records state that, after the 10th Century, gold from the country of Sofala became the most important trading commodity, usurping ivory.

The artefacts found at Mapungubwe and illustrating the flourishing trade and advanced social systems of African kingdoms in the 13th century are on display at the University of Pretoria.

Planning to Visit South Africa?  You need to know:

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