Understanding the dynamics of herding and cattle posts in pre-colonial Tswana of the last 500 years

Abstract

Several archaeological studies have shown that keeping cattle outside the main settlement, commonly known as the cattle post system, is not a new phenomenon. This research reviews the evidence, both archaeological and historical, for herd management strategies. It studies the settlement patterning at a modern cattle post (Tswana moraka) and shows that several factors lead to its establishment. Two main types of cattle posts are evident, some are designed for risk management and others for ecological management. As an archaeological focal point, a precolonial Batswana capital, Kweneng (Suikerbosrand), in South Africa is studied. I hypothesized that as this capital increased in size and wealth from the seventeenth to the early nineteenth century, cattle wealth would have increased. At later stages, as the cattle wealth increased, a reliance on the cattle post system would manifest itself in a proportional reduction in the area devoted for livestock in the capital. I studied variation in the sizes and positioning of kraals at selected Tswana main centres. My research highlights several key issues. The sizes of areas devoted to livestock management (central enclosures) and the areas devoted to residential activities (compound or ward space) varied over time and space. There is a positive relationship between the sizes of central enclosures and compound or ward space. While this may be taken to reflect that there is no reduction as per the hypothesis, the data shows that issues of ‗change‘ are complex. Change must be measured at various levels, by firstly, measuring variation across the transition from N Type N Klipriviersberg-Molokwane compounds, and in the positioning of central or shared kraals. The positioning (and variation thereof) of central enclosures is an indicator for change in herd management strategies. The proportional decline or increase in the space/area devoted to livestock management is key in the identification of evolution in livestock management practices. Other key indicators are the settlement layout, buffering patterns between wards or compounds, and between main centres. Extended buffering for yards and kraals observable at cattle posts and satellite settlements are indicative of livestock shedding and decentralization to outposts. Interestingly, this livestock shedding is consistent with shedding the human population at ward level, from bigger wards or compounds to sub-wards or sub-compounds. As a result, the newer establishments show a percentage decline in central enclosures. Generally, the Type M compounds at Kweneng (South Africa) are allocating less than 30% of their total space to livestock management areas or central enclosures. For Molepolole (Botswana) the sampled wards are largely allocating less than 10% of their total space to livestock management (central kraals)