An archaeobotanical study of multiple thirteenth century Mapungubwe era settlements in Limpopo, South Africa

Abstract

The Middle Iron Age (MIA), c, 900 to 1300 AD, is a period associated with agro-pastoralists, people who practiced agriculture and kept stock animals in north-east South Africa. Most of the studies on the MIA have been concerned with large sites in the Shashe Limpopo Confluence Area (SLCA) such as Mapungubwe. While an increasing number of studies are looking at MIA sites outside the SLCA, little is known about how agriculture was managed or which wild plants were exploited during the MIA.

The limited research that has been undertaken on MIA agriculture has largely been focused on using macrobotanical material which is dependent on fire for preservation. It is unknown whether phytoliths were preserved at MIA sites (Biagetti 2020, pers. comm). As such, this dissertation examined three MIA sites Mutamba (MUT), Vryheid (MNR 04) and Frampton 1 (MNR 074) located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa in order to first, ascertain the presence of phytoliths at MIA sites, and second, to determine agricultural practices and third, to determine if there is any differences in wild taxa utilised.

Analysis on phytolith material found that phytoliths were present at each of the three sites. Analysis of macrobotanical material found a wide variety of crop and wild taxa at the sites. It was theorized that two of the sites, Mutamba (MUT) and Vryheid (MNR 04) practiced floodplain and dryland agriculture while the Frampton 1 (MNR 074) was most likely a temporary stock post. A number of wild taxa was also identified at the sites. These taxa held multiple purposes (food, medicine etc.). Overall, there does not appear to be an overwhelming difference of wild taxa utilised at these three sites.