Mapungubwe

An illustrated book about a 1000 year old civilization Between AD 900 and 1300, the Shashe-Limpopo basin in Limpopo Province witnessed the development of an ancient civilization. Like civilizations everywhere, it consisted of a complex social organization supported by intensive agriculture and long-distance trade. The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, as it is now known, was the forerunner of the famous town of Great Zimbabwe, situated about 200 kilometers to the north, and its cultural connection to Great Zimbabwe and the Venda people allows archaeologists to reconstruct its evolution. This generously illustrated book tells the story of an African civilization that began more than 1000 years ago. It is the first in a series of accessible books written by specialists for visitors to South Africa's World Heritage Sites.

The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape is one of the profound treasures of southern Africas social and archaeological history, appropriately declared a World Heritage (Unesco) in 2003. Contained within this landscape is indispensable information on precolonial state formation, social hierarchies, architecture of stone-walled towns, mineral processing and intercontinental trade. And yet, the Mapungubwe state rose, towered over its environs, and then declined long before European colonial incursions. What exactly were the social dynamics in this polity? What technologies did it utilise? How did it relate to neighbouring unable to sustain itself? In this combined edition of two MISTRA publications, now jointly titled Mapungubwe Reconsidered: A Living Legacy, MISTRA seeks to contribute to the body of knowledge about Mapungubwe, straddling such issues as the relationships between humans and the environment, management of mineral endowments and the form and impact of southern Africas global intercourse in this historical period.

The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape is one of the profound treasures of southern Africa's social and archaeological history, appropriately declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) in 2003. Contained within this landscape is indispensable information on precolonial state formation, social hierarchies, architecture of stone-walled towns, mineral processing and intercontinental trade. And yet, the Mapungubwe state rose, towered over its environs, and then declined – long before European colonial incursions. Mapungubwe Reconsidered: A Living Legacy contributes to the body of knowledge about Mapungubwe, straddling such issues as the relationships between humans and the environment, management of mineral endowments and the form and impact of southern Africa's global intercourse in this historical period.

In the timeless kingdom of Mapungubwe, the royal sculptor had two sons, Chata and Rendani. As they grew, so grew their rivalry--and their extraordinary talents. But while Rendani became a master carver of the animals that run in the wild hills and lush valleys of the land, Chata learned to carve fantastic beings from his dreams, creatures never before seen on the Earth. From this natural rivalry between brothers, Zakes Mda crafts an irresistibly rich fable of love and family. What makes the better art, perfect mimicry or inspiration? Who makes the better wife, a princess or a mysterious dancer? Ageless and contemporary, deceptive in its simplicity and mythical in its scope, The Sculptors of Mapungubwe encompasses all we know of love, envy, and the artist's primal power to forge art from nature and nature into art. Mda's newest novel will only strengthen his international reputation as one of the most trenchant voices of South Africa.

A study of the history of intellectual and scientific racism in modern South Africa.

Professor Fage and Professor Oliver, the editors of this collection, are distinguished historians of Africa, and as founding editors of the Journal of African History they both established the journal and used it to mark out developing areas of the subject. In directing the journal they have pursued an active policy of commissioning articles in fields where the literature was scanty, and in this volume they have collected together some of the most important articles they have published on African prehistory. It is designed for the student of African history, and the library that needs copies of frequently consulted papers to supplement its sets of periodicals. All the articles contain either accounts of important research or more general review articles. The book is illustrated with line diagrams and photographs. One article which originally appeared in French has been translated into English.

Mapungubwe is one of South Africa's best-kept secrets. The Hill of the Jackal was the centre of a thriving civilisation around 800 AD-1200 AD. This work contains images of the gold artefacts, the pottery and the beadwork - together with a history of the civilisation.

In Collaboration in Archaeological Practice, prominent archaeologists reflect on their experiences collaborating with descendant communities (peoples whose ancestors are the subject of archaeological research). They offer philosophical and practical advice on how to improve the practice of archaeology by actively involving native peoples and other interested groups in research.