Kingdom of Mapungubwe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kingdom of Mapungubwe
Mapungubwe
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| c. 1075–c. 1220 | |||||||||
| Status | Kingdom | ||||||||
| Capital | Mapungubwe | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
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• K2 and Schroda culture moves to Mapungubwe Hill
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c. 1075 | ||||||||
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• Mapungubwe Hill abandoned and population dispersed
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c. 1220 | ||||||||
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| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
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| Location | Limpopo, South Africa |
| Criteria | Cultural: (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) |
| Inscription | 2003 (27th Session) |
| Extensions | 2014 |
| Area | 281.686602 km2 (69,606 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 1,048 km2 (259,000 acres) |
The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was an important ancient kingdom in South Africa. It existed from about 1075 to 1220 AD. This kingdom was located where the Shashe and Limpopo rivers meet. This area is south of where Great Zimbabwe would later be built.
The name Mapungubwe (pronounced "mah-POON-goob-weh") comes from the TjiKalanga and Tshivenda languages. It might mean "Hill of Jackals" or "stone monuments." This kingdom was a key step in the development of later powerful states in the region. It had strong trade links, especially for gold, with places like Rhapta and Kilwa Kisiwani on Africa's east coast. The Kingdom of Mapungubwe lasted for about 140 years. At its busiest time, its capital city had around 5,000 people.
Archaeologists believe this site belonged to the BuKalanga Kingdom. This kingdom included the Kalanga people from Botswana and Zimbabwe. It also included the Nambiya people and the Vha Venda from South Africa. Many amazing objects found at Mapungubwe are now kept in the Mapungubwe Museum in Pretoria.
Contents
The Kingdom's Beginning
Before Mapungubwe, there was a large settlement called the K2 culture. This K2 culture was part of the Leopard's Kopje culture. The people of K2 were likely ancestors of today's Venda and Kalanga people. They were drawn to the Shashi-Limpopo area. This region was good for farming and raising animals.
It was also a great place for elephants, meaning lots of valuable ivory. The K2 culture gained a lot of power by controlling the trade of gold and ivory. By 1075, the K2 population grew too big for their area. So, they moved to Mapungubwe Hill, starting the new kingdom.
Building with Stone
The Kingdom of Mapungubwe was the first in southern Africa to use stone walls. These walls helped to mark off important areas. For example, there was a stone-walled home likely used by a main leader. Both stone and wood were used in building.
Mapungubwe Hill itself was probably surrounded by a wooden fence. Most of the capital's people lived inside the western wall. This shows how they organized their city.
What Mapungubwe Means
The capital city of the kingdom was called Mapungubwe. This is where the kingdom got its name. Today, the city site is a World Heritage Site. It is also a South African National Heritage Site, a national park, and an important archaeological site.
There are different ideas about what "Mapungubwe" means. Many believe it means "place of jackals" or "place where jackals eat." It could also mean "hill of the jackals." Some people from the Pedi, Sotho, Tsonga, Venda, and Kalanga groups suggest other meanings. These include "place of wisdom" or "the place where the rock turns into liquid."
Society and Culture
Archaeologists think Mapungubwe was the first place in southern Africa with a class-based society. This means leaders were separate from and ranked higher than ordinary people. The way Mapungubwe was built also shows early signs of sacred leadership in the region.
Life in Mapungubwe focused on family and farming. Special areas were set aside for ceremonies and daily activities. Cattle were very important. They lived in kraals (enclosures) close to people's homes.
We learn about Mapungubwe society mostly from its buildings. The people did not leave written records.
The kingdom likely had three levels of society. Ordinary people lived in lower areas. District leaders lived on small hilltops. The highest authority was at Mapungubwe Hill, where the king lived. Important people were buried on hills. Royal wives had their own living areas, separate from the king. This way of organizing society started at Mapungubwe. It was later copied by other kingdoms like Butua and Rozwi.
As the population grew, some people became full-time potters. Gold objects were found in the graves of important people on Mapungubwe Hill.
How Mapungubwe Was Found Again
On New Year's Eve in 1932, a local farmer named E.S.J. van Graan and his son went exploring. They were following a local legend.
They found remains of a stone fort on top of Mapungubwe Hill. These remains dated back to the 11th century. Today, public access to the site is limited to guided tours. Some of the items found are on display at the University of Pretoria. Mapungubwe Hill and the K2 site were declared national monuments in the 1980s. In 2003, Mapungubwe was added to the South African school curriculum for grade 6.
Burials on Mapungubwe Hill
At least 24 skeletons were found on Mapungubwe Hill. Only 11 could be studied, as others fell apart when touched. Most skeletons had few or no items buried with them. Many adults were buried with glass beads.
However, three special burials stood out. Two adults (labeled 10 and 14) and one unlabeled skeleton had gold objects. These were found in a special grave area on Mapungubwe Hill. All skeletons were buried in a traditional sitting position. Their legs were drawn to the chest, and arms folded. They all faced west.
Skeleton number 10, a male, was found holding a golden sceptre. Skeleton number 14, a female, had over 100 gold wire bracelets around her ankles. Her grave also contained more than a thousand gold beads. The last gold burial, likely the king, had a headrest. He was also buried with three gold foil objects shaped like a bowl, a sceptre, and a rhino. At least two more gold rhinos were found, but their exact graves are unknown.
In 2007, the South African government decided to rebury these skeletons on Mapungubwe Hill. A ceremony took place on November 20, 2007.
Population and Lifestyle
Diet and Health
Scientists have studied the skeletons from Mapungubwe to learn about their health. They found that people in Mapungubwe lived similar lifespans to other groups before modern medicine. Many children died young, but adults often lived to be 35-40 years old.
The people of Mapungubwe generally grew well. They did not often suffer from long-term infections. However, some children showed signs of anaemia (low iron in the blood). There was no sign of malaria. This suggests they were healthier than some other farming groups in South Africa at the time.
Ancestors of Today's People
Studies of the skeletons suggest that the people of Mapungubwe were related to the Bantu groups of southern Africa. They are believed to be ancestors of modern groups like the Venda and Kalanga people. This is supported by the objects and culture found at the site, which match known Bantu practices.
It's important to remember that different groups in southern Africa have mixed over time. So, many people today have a mix of ancestral traits.
Protected Areas
Mapungubwe is now part of a larger protected area. This includes the Mapungubwe National Park. This park is part of the UNESCO Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape. It is also part of the Greater Mapungubwe Transfrontier Conservation Area. This is a huge area that crosses the borders of South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe.
South Africa's part of this conservation area includes Mapungubwe National Park. It also has other nature reserves and private farms. Botswana's part includes the Northern Tuli Game Reserve. Zimbabwe's part includes Sentinel Ranch and other areas. These efforts help protect the natural environment and the historical sites.
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site on July 3, 2003. This means it is considered very important for all of humanity.
Gallery
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Entrance to Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo Province, South Africa
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Taken from South Africa, to the left is Botswana and Zimbabwe is on the right. The river running from left to right is the Limpopo River. The river which disappears on the horizon is the Shashe
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Sandstone rock formations typical of Mapungubwe National Park
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Treetop Boardwalk. All facilities at Mapungubwe National Park are wheelchair-friendly.
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Mapungubwe Hill viewed from the north
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The name may derive from the Shona word for Bateleur eagle
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An archaeological excavation site at Mapungubwe.
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The Golden Rhinoceros of Mapungubwe
See also
- Other ruins in South Africa
- Blaauboschkraal stone ruins in Mpumalanga
- Machadodorp baKoni Ruins in Mpumalanga
- Kaditshwene in North West province
- Kweneng' Ruins in Gauteng
- Sedan Beehive stone huts in Free State
- Tlokwe Ruins in Gauteng
- Thulamela in Kruger National Park, Limpopo
- Similar ruins outside South Africa
- Bumbusi in Zimbabwe
- Danangombe in Zimbabwe
- Engaruka in Tanzania
- Khami in Zimbabwe
- Manyikeni in Mozambique
- Naletale in Zimbabwe
- Thimlich Ohinga stone ruins in Kenya
- Ziwa in Zimbabwe
- baKalanga
- Mapungubwe Collection
- Order of Mapungubwe
- List of Castles and Fortifications in South Africa
