The Iron Age of the Makapan Valley area, central Transvaal

Abstract

A culture-history research project was initiated for the relatively unresearched Makapan Valley area of the central Transvaal. The valley was surveyed intensively and fifty sites recorded. Three, 2429AA4 (Ficus), 2429AA24 (Kekane) and 2429AA36 were excavated. Ficus was a multicomponent site with four phases of occupation; an initial fifth to sixth century A.D. Lydenburg phase, a ninth to tenth century Eiland phase, an ambiguous fifteenth century entity and a superficial early twentieth century Ndebele occupation. This site sequence provided the framework for the research area's culture-history. Site 2429AA24 provided a larger sample of twentieth century Ndebele pottery. 2429AA36 proved sterile. The sample of excavated Eiland phase pottery has been significantly increased by the Ficus material.