The archaeology of Moxomatsi, a 17th century Bokoni capital, Mpumalanga, South Africa

Abstract

Ruins of Bokoni stonewalled settlements cover an area of 10000 km2 in north-eastern South Africa. Most archaeological research conducted on Bokoni settlements thus far has focused on phase I sites in the south, and phase II and phase III sites in the north. The zone in between remains largely understudied and unexcavated. My research focuses on this understudied region, particularly Moxomatsi, in central Bokoni. Moxomatsi is the earliest Bokoni capital mentioned in recorded oral histories. The aims of this research are to understand the spatial configuration of the town, and to explore what roles gender played in the structuring processes of the town