Abstract:
The basic objective of this article is to elucidate the conservation of the African
Iron Age Mapungubwe gold collection from South Africa which is curated by
the University of Pretoria. This nationally significant collection of gold artefacts
has been researched since the 1930s, but active conservation began only in 1999
to ensure its long-term preservation. The focus of this article is mainly on the
stabilization of the entire gold collection, which involved efforts to arrest
fragmentation, re-unite dissociated fragments and bring about considerable
improvements to the collection. Work included creating sufficient support to
enable the safe handling and packaging of objects in order to ensure research
could be undertaken without further damage to the objects. The gold
collection has been consistently researched for many decades, during which
time significant amounts of materials analyses and other research data have
accumulated. During a preliminary study of the collection in 1999 by
conservators from the British Museum, suggestions were made for future
conservation and since then, efforts by the Mapungubwe Museum have
resulted in the formation of strategic partnerships, garnered support and
funding to initiate a gold conservation programme. With funding secured in
2007, conservation was undertaken at the South African Institute for Objects
Conservation in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The conservation
programme concluded with public lectures, media interest and an exhibition
The Gold Treasures of Mapungubwe in November 2009, which attracted interest
world-wide. This article will focus on the conservation programme
