Berkenrode : archaeological insights on the history of a 20th century artisanal mine in the Limpopo Valley

Abstract

Narratives about South African industrialisation, especially regarding the mining sector, have not paid adequate attention to small scale (artisanal) mining operations and the communities who worked them. This article reports on the archaeology of the artisanal copper mining site Berkenrode, also known as MNR211, located on the farm Berkenrode 45 MT, close to Musina in the extreme north of the Limpopo Province. Material culture from the site suggests it was likely active between 1937 and 1946. The architecture and material culture also inform on the industrial activities at the site and the domestic and social distinctions of the mining community on Berkenrode.