English: In a regional survey in an area around Loolekop which represents the central
carbonatite pipe of the Palabora Igneous Complex, about fifty historical known
sites were identified and divided into three groups according to the metalworking
and occupational remains on these sites. Test excavations were conducted on
eleven of the sites in order to gain information on the nature and extent of
metalworking in the research area, viz. the Loole site complex, while the
archaeological remains were also coupled with ethnohistorical evidence regarding
early baPhalaborwa communities.
The excavations indicated that iron and copper had been worked in different
processes and with different furnaces. The working of the metals indicate certain
areas of preference - although this may have been influenced by the destruction
of archaeological sites due to modern mining activities. Oral tradition couples
the metalworkers with different early baPhalaborwa communities, while the
different groups of sites were arranged in a relative chronology aided by radiocarbon
dating, historical information and the characteristics of sites.
Afrikaans: In 'n streekopname in 'n gebied rondom Loolekop wat die sentrale karbonatietpyp
van die Palabora Stollingskompleks vorm, is sowat vyftig histories bekende terreine
opgespoor wat in drie groepe verdeel is op grond van die metaalbewerkings- en
woonten-einoorblyfsels van die terreine. Steekproefopgrawings is op elf terreine
uitgevoer ten einde meer van die aard en omvang van metaalbewerking in die
navorsingsgebied, nl. die Loole-terreinkompleks vas te stel, terwyl die argeologiese
oorblyfsels ook met behulp van etnohistoriese inligting aangaande vroee baPhalabot'w
a-gemeenskappe geskakel is.
Opgrawings toon dat yster en koper in die navorsingsgebied bewerk is met behulp
van verskillende prosesse en in verskillende tipes oonde. Die bewerking van die
metale toon sekere voorkomsgebiede - hoewel dit beinvloed kon word deur die
vernietigingswerk van moderne mynbedrywighede. Mondelinge oorlewering verbind
die metaalbewerkers met verskillende vroee baPhalaborwa-gemeenskappe, terwyl
die groepe terreine in 'n relatiewe chronologie georden word met behulp van
radiokoolstofdaterings, historiese inligting en die kenmerke van terreine.
