The Prehistory of an iron age site on Skutwater

Abstract

After excavations on Mapungubwe by the Department of Archaeology of the University of Pretoria. two definitive research reports emerged in 1979 and 1980. These reports placed the cultural historical framework for Mapungubwe on a firm foundation. superannuating earlier work that had been variously criticised as unsuitable for comparative purposes. The objectives of this research project were to excavate a related site in order to expand the avai I able comparative data and extend the spatial perspective of the Mapungubwe culture. To this end the site of Skutwater was selected. The material recovered from Skutwater was subjected to various analyses for defining the internal structure of Skutwater and generating comparative data. As far as possible quantitative data were used for comparisons. The relationship between Skutwater and Mapungubwe was interpreted within certain social. economic and political models and a definate relationship was found to exist.