A technological study of ceramics from two greater Mapungubwe landscape sites using portable X-Ray fluorescence and petrography

Abstract

This research made use of portable x-ray fluorescence and petrography to analyse ceramics from two Middle Iron Age sites forming part of the Greater Mapungubwe Landscape. The two sites, Evelyn (EV01), and Klein Bolayi (EV02) situated within the Klein Bolayi Game Lodge have been identified as TK2 sites based on ceramic stylistic analysis. For this study, ceramic assemblages were analysed chemically and mineralogically to compare any present relationships in the clay and ceramic technology. Chemical and mineralogical analysis of Evelyn and Klein Bolayi showed an overarching similarity in ceramic compositions of both sites. Evelyn presented ceramics which were compositionally and technologically similar with the implementation of grog tempering and a pinching forming method. Klein Bolayi showed greater compositional and technological variation with two petrographic samples showing presence of non-local clay within the ceramics. One of the petrographic outliers of Klein Bolayi had also been identified as a chemical outlier based on pXRF analysis. The technological variations were present in the usage of both pinching and coiling forming methods. Both sites were likely to have used the same clay source for ceramic production alongside similar technological styles.