An archaeological interpretation of certain iron age sites in the Limpopo/Shashi valley

Abstract

An archaeological investigation was made of two Iron Age sites on the farms Schroda and Pont Drift. The farms are situated on the southern bank of the Limpopo River, about 65 km and 95 km respectively west of Messina. Little is known about the archaeological cultures of the area surrounding the Limpopo and Shashi Rivers in the northern Transvaal and north eastern Botswana. Attention has been given to the work done in Rhodesia, Botswana and in particular at Greefswald. The project was initiated in 1973 with a survey during which 86 Iron Age sites were recorded. Five sites were excavated, of which Pont Drift (TPD 1/2) and Schroda (TSR 1/1) were chosen for interpretation in this dissertation . Attention was given to pottery as well as other cultural facts. Schroda was found to contain stamp decorated Zhizo pottery, although a certain amount of incised ware was found. Certain features were noted here, which suggested that characteristics normally associated with the Leopard's Kopje A Tradition may have had their origin during the earlier Zhizo Tradition. During analysis of the material, particular attention was given to these aspects. At Pont Drift, an interesting sequence was exposed. The two metre deep occupation could be divided into four stratigraphic units, which were culturally different from one another. The lower unit (4) contained Zhizo pottery, while the topmost unit (1) contained Leopard's Kopje A pottery. The intermediate units (2 + 3) contained a mixture of Zhizo and Leopard's Kopje A pottery with the Zhizo decreasing towards the upper levels. Radiocarbon dates placed the Zhizo occupation of Schroda and Pont Drift Unit 4 at between 790 and 850 A.D. The Leopard's Kopje A unit at Pont Drift was dated to around 1100 A.D. From the information a reconstruction can be made of the development of the two pottery traditions in the research area. Schroda and Pont Drift were inhabited by people with the well developed stamp decorated Zhizo pottery tradition from about 790 to 850 A.D. At this period (850 A.D.) new inhabitants entered the area bringing with them a new, incised pottery series. These people mixed with the Zhizo peoples and out of this union developed the Leopard's Kopje A tradition, which contains numerous characteristics of the Zhizo cultuLe. There is no indication at either site of a forced abandoning of the villages, suggesting that the newcomers lived peacefully amongst the original inhabitants of the area. It is at the same time clear that the Leopard's Kopje A did not develop naturally out of the Zhizo. Schroda represents the first excavated site of the southern branch of the Zhizo Tradition, and it is the author's opinion that it should be regarded as the type site. Further work should still be done, particularly that other Zhizo sites be excavated to control the findings at Schroda and Pont Drift unit 4. A spatial settl.ement study of other Leopard's Kopje A sites should be undertaken to determine relationships to one another, as well as differences in economy. AFRIKAANS : 'n Argeologiese· ondersoek is gedoen op twee Ystertydperkterreine op die plase Schroda en Pont Drift. Die plase is onderskeidelik ongeveer 65 km en 95 km wes van Messina geleë op die suidelike oewer van die Limpoporivier. Weinig is bekend oor die argeologiese kulture van die omgewing random die Limpopo-en Shashiriviere in die Noord-Transvaal en Noordoos-Botswana. Aandag is gegee aan werk gedoen in Rhodesië en Botswana besonder by Greefswald. Die projek is in 1973 aan die gang gesit met 'n opname waartydens 86 Ystertydperkterreine aangeteken is. Vyf van hierdie terreine is opgegrawe, waarvan Pont Drift (TPD 1/2) en Schroda (TSR 1/1) gekies is vir interpretasie in hierdie verhandeling. Aandag is gegee aan die potwerk sowel as ander kultuurfasette. By Schroda is stempelversierde Zhizo-potwerk gevind, tesame met 'n sekere persentasie met insnyding. Sekere verskynsels is hier opgemerk wat geimpliseer het dat kenmerke wat normaalweg met die Leopard's Kopje A Tradisie verbind word, moontlik hulle oorsprong kon gehad het tydens die vroeëre Zhizo. Met die ontleding van die materiaal is besondere aandag hieraan gegee. 'n Interessante volgorde van lae is gevind by Pont Drift. Die bewoningslae, wat twee meter diep was, kon in vier stratigrafiese eenhede verdeel wore wat kultureel van mekaar verskil het. Die onderste eenheid (4) het Zhizo potwerk bevat, terwyl die boonste eenheid (1) slegs Leopard's Kopje A potwerk gehad het. Die eenhede tussenin (2 + 3) het gemengde Zhizo en Leopard's Kopje A potwerk bevat, met 'n afname in Zhizo na die boonste lae. Radiokoolstofdaterinq plaas die Zhizo bewoning van Schroda en Pont Drift op ongeveer 710 tot 850 n.C. Die Leopard's Kopje A eenheid by Pont Drift se datering is ongeveer 1100 n.C. Uit die inligting kan 'n rekonstruksie gemaak word van die ontwikkeling van die twee potwerktradisies in die navorsingsgebied. Schroda en Pont Drift is vanaf ongeveer 790 tot 850 n.C. bewoon deur mense met 'n goed ontwikkelde stempelversierde Zhizo potwerktradisie. Op daardie tydstip (850 n.C) het nuwe intrekkers die gebied binnegekom en het 'n nuwe potwerkserie wat deur insnyding gekenmerk was, saamgebring. Hierdie mense het vermeng met die Zhizo mense en uit die verbintenis het die Leopard's Kopje A tradisie ontwikkel wat talle kenrnerke van die Zhizo kultuur dra. Daar is geen aanduiding by enige van die twee terreine van 'n gedwonge ontruiming van die nedersettings nie. Dit suggereer dat die nuwe intrekkers hul vreedsaam tussen die oorspronklike inwoners van die gebied gevestig het. Dit is terselfdertyd duidelik dat die Leopard's Kopje Tradisie nie spontaan uit die Zhizo kon ontwikkel het nie. Schroda verteenwoordig die eerste terrein van die suidelike vertakking van die Zhizo Tradisie wat opgegrawe is en dit is die mening van die skrywer dat dit as die tipeterrein beskou behoort te word. Verdere werk moet nog gedoen word, veral ten opsigte van die opgrawing van addisionele Zhizo terreine om die gegewens van Schroda en Pont Drift, eenheid 4, te kontroleer. Ook moet 'n studie van die ruimtelike vestigingspatroon van ander Leopard's Kopje A terreine onderneem word om die verband tussen hulle asook verskille in ekonomie te bepaal.