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{{Infobox museum
{{Infobox museum
|name = Mapungubwe Museum
| name = Mapungubwe Museum
|image = Old Arts Building of the University of Pretoria Museums, South Africa.jpg
| image = Old Arts Building of the University of Pretoria Museums, South Africa.jpg
|caption = The Old Arts building houses the museum
| caption = The Old Arts Building contains the collection
|alt =
| alt =
|pushpin_map = South Africa #South Africa Gauteng
| pushpin_map = South Africa #South Africa Gauteng
|coordinates = {{coord|-25.755080|28.231988|display=inline}}
| coordinates = {{coord|-25.755080|28.231988|display=inline}}
|established = 2000
| established = {{start date|2000}}
|dissolved =
| dissolved =
|location = [[Gauteng]], [[South Africa]]
| location = [[Gauteng]], South Africa
|type = [[Archaeology museum]]
| type = [[Archaeology museum]]
|collection = Mapungubwe Collection
| collection =
|visitors =
| visitors =
|director =
| director =
|president =
| president =
|curator =
| curator =
| publictransit =
|publictransit = [[N4 road (South Africa)|N4]] and [[N14 road (South Africa)|N14]] national routes, cnr Lynnwood & Roper St, Loftus Versveldpark [[Metrorail Gauteng|Metrorail]] Station, Tukkies station for the [[A Re Yeng]] rapid bus transit system.
|network =
| network =
|website = {{URL|http://www.up.ac.za/en/museums-collections/article/1823912/mapungubwe-collection-the-collection}}
| website = {{URL|https://www.up.ac.za/museums-collections/article/3103767/mapungubwe-archive}}
}}
}}
The '''Mapungubwe Collection''' at the [[University of Pretoria]] Museums comprises archaeological material excavated by the University of Gauteng at the [[Mapungubwe]] archaeological site since its discovery in 1933. The archaeological collection comprises [[ceramic]]s, metals, trade [[glass bead]]s, indigenous beads, clay figurines, and bone and ivory artefacts as well as an extensive research collection of [[potsherd]]s, faunal remains and other fragmentary material. The University of Gauteng established a permanent museum in June 2000, thereby making the archaeological collection more widely available for public access and interest beyond the confines of academia. The collection is kept on site for tourism purposes.
The '''Mapungubwe Collection''', held by the [[University of Pretoria]] museums in its Old Arts Building, consists of archaeological materials excavated by the former University of Gauteng from the [[Mapungubwe]] archaeological site since its discovery in 1933. The collection includes [[ceramics]], metals, trade [[glass beads]], indigenous beads, clay figurines, and artifacts made from bone and ivory, alongside a research collection of [[potsherds]], faunal remains, and other fragmentary materials. In June 2000, the University of Gauteng inaugurated the permanent museum. The collection is maintained on site, serving both educational and tourism purposes.


==The archaeological site of Mapungubwe==
== Mapungubwe archaeological site ==
The archaeological site of Mapungubwe (pronounced: "mah-POON-goob-weh"), is located on the borders of [[Zimbabwe]] and [[Botswana]] in the [[Limpopo Province]], and is situated near the confluence of the [[Shashe River|Shashe]] and [[Limpopo River]]s in southern Africa. It is here along these major rivers that the rise of complex Iron Age societies first began at the site of Schroda, a Zhizo/Leokwe community (AD 900 - AD 1000). Thereafter, a shift in regional economic and socio-political changes gave rise to the new nearby settlement of K2 (AD 1030–AD 1220). A ruling class emerged and thus the first southern African state came into being at [[Kingdom of Mapungubwe|Mapungubwe Hill]] (AD 1220 - AD 1290).<ref name="ShowMe" /> These sites collectively form the core area of a [[World Heritage Site]], recognised for both its natural and cultural landscape that are considered to be of outstanding universal value.
The Mapungubwe archaeological site (pronounced "mah-POON-goob-weh") is located at the confluence of the [[Shashe River|Shashe]] and [[Limpopo River]]s, on the borders of Zimbabwe and Botswana in the [[Limpopo Province]] of South Africa. At this site, the development of complex [[Iron Age]] societies started with the Schroda site, a Zhizo/Leokwe community, around AD 900 to AD 1000. Subsequent regional economic and socio-political shifts led to the establishment of the K2 settlement (AD 1030–AD 1220). The emergence of a ruling class during this period marked the beginning of the first southern African state at [[Mapungubwe Hill]] (AD 1220–AD 1290).<ref name="ShowMe" /> These sites together constitute the core of a [[World Heritage Site]], recognised for its natural and cultural landscape deemed to possess great value.


The discovery in 1932 was first attributed to the van Graan family. Mapungubwe Hill however had already been discovered in the early 1890s by an explorer named [[François Lotrie]].<ref name="saho" /> Local knowledge of Mapungubwe has also been recorded from oral histories, thus supporting ethnographic and historical evidence about the awareness of Mapungubwe as a sacred hill{{Citation needed|date=March 2016}}. Evidence suggests that Mapungubwe therefore cannot be regarded as belonging to any single individual, but is rather symbolically associated with various groups of people. The combination of archaeological research, historical records and oral traditions does nonetheless expand the understanding of pre-colonial societies and their settlement in and around Mapungubwe over periods of time.
The site's initial attribution to the van Graan family in 1932 follows its earlier discovery in the early 1890s by explorer François Lotrie.<ref name="saho" /> Local knowledge of Mapungubwe has also been recorded from oral histories, thus supporting ethnographic and historical evidence about the awareness of Mapungubwe as a sacred hill{{Citation needed|date=March 2016}}. Evidence suggests that Mapungubwe therefore cannot be regarded as belonging to any single individual, but is rather symbolically associated with various groups of people. The combination of archaeological research, historical records and oral traditions does nonetheless expand the understanding of pre-colonial societies and their settlement in and around Mapungubwe over periods of time.


==The collection==
==The collection==

Revision as of 16:36, 29 March 2024

Mapungubwe Museum
The Old Arts Building contains the collection
Mapungubwe Collection is located in South Africa
Mapungubwe Collection
Location within South Africa
Mapungubwe Collection is located in Gauteng
Mapungubwe Collection
Mapungubwe Collection (Gauteng)
Established2000 (2000)
LocationGauteng, South Africa
Coordinates25°45′18″S 28°13′55″E / 25.755080°S 28.231988°E / -25.755080; 28.231988
TypeArchaeology museum
Websitewww.up.ac.za/museums-collections/article/3103767/mapungubwe-archive

The Mapungubwe Collection, held by the University of Pretoria museums in its Old Arts Building, consists of archaeological materials excavated by the former University of Gauteng from the Mapungubwe archaeological site since its discovery in 1933. The collection includes ceramics, metals, trade glass beads, indigenous beads, clay figurines, and artifacts made from bone and ivory, alongside a research collection of potsherds, faunal remains, and other fragmentary materials. In June 2000, the University of Gauteng inaugurated the permanent museum. The collection is maintained on site, serving both educational and tourism purposes.

Mapungubwe archaeological site

The Mapungubwe archaeological site (pronounced "mah-POON-goob-weh") is located at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo Rivers, on the borders of Zimbabwe and Botswana in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. At this site, the development of complex Iron Age societies started with the Schroda site, a Zhizo/Leokwe community, around AD 900 to AD 1000. Subsequent regional economic and socio-political shifts led to the establishment of the K2 settlement (AD 1030–AD 1220). The emergence of a ruling class during this period marked the beginning of the first southern African state at Mapungubwe Hill (AD 1220–AD 1290).[1] These sites together constitute the core of a World Heritage Site, recognised for its natural and cultural landscape deemed to possess great value.

The site's initial attribution to the van Graan family in 1932 follows its earlier discovery in the early 1890s by explorer François Lotrie.[2] Local knowledge of Mapungubwe has also been recorded from oral histories, thus supporting ethnographic and historical evidence about the awareness of Mapungubwe as a sacred hill[citation needed]. Evidence suggests that Mapungubwe therefore cannot be regarded as belonging to any single individual, but is rather symbolically associated with various groups of people. The combination of archaeological research, historical records and oral traditions does nonetheless expand the understanding of pre-colonial societies and their settlement in and around Mapungubwe over periods of time.

The collection

Interior of the Mapungubwe gold gallery
Close-up of the golden rhinoceros of Mapungubwe

The discovery of gold artefacts on Mapungubwe Hill in 1932 served as a catalyst for detailed academic research early in 1933 after the University of Pretoria had secured research rights from the government.[2] Large-scale excavations were undertaken between 1933 and 1940, until research was disrupted by the outbreak of World War II. Intermittent excavations followed in the 1950s, which were then continued by more thorough stratigraphic excavations throughout 1960s up to the late 1990s. Over decades, these excavations and scientific findings were largely held within academia and rarely reached public knowledge. The collection was assembled over 80 years of excavations by the University of Pretoria, although minor collections of Mapungubwe material are housed at several other institutions throughout South Africa. In 2003, with the declaration of Mapungubwe by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, a suspension was placed on all excavations at Mapungubwe, a decision which is still in place as of 2016.

The Mapungubwe Collection is on public display at both the University of Pretoria Museums as well as the Mapungubwe Gold Collection new Javett-UP Arts Centre which opened its doors on 24 September 2019. Part of the Mapungubwe Collection is loaned to the Mapungubwe Interpretation Center at Mapungubwe National Park.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mapungubwe Collection.

See also

References

  1. ^ Steenkamp, Charl. "Mapungubwe Collection – University of Pretoria". ShowMe™ - Pretoria. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
  2. ^ a b "Mapungubwe". South African History Online. Retrieved 2016-10-10.
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