The Rhino Early Iron Age site, Thabazimbi, South Africa. Issue 3 (2nd July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huffman, Thomas N.; Whitelaw, Gavin; Tarduno, John A.; Watkeys, Michael K.; Woodborne, Stephan
• Is Part Of: Azania. Volume 55:Issue 3(2020)
• Page Start: 360
• Page End: 388
• Publication Date: 2020-07-02
• Subjects: archaeomagnetism -- Central Cattle Pattern -- Happy Rest pottery -- Lydenburg Head -- Mzonjani pottery -- southern Africa; Archaeology -- Africa, Eastern -- Periodicals; Archaeology -- Africa -- Periodicals; Africa, Eastern -- History -- Periodicals; Africa -- History -- To 1498 -- Periodicals; Africa, Eastern -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; Africa -- Antiquities -- Periodicals; 960
• DOI: 10.1080/0067270X.2020.1792196
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0067-270X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The Rhino Early Iron Age site near Thabazimbi in the far north of South Africa is a sixth- to eighth-century AD example of an agricultural settlement that followed the principles of the Central Cattle Pattern. In addition to settlement features, salvage excavations yielded a fragment of a 'Lydenburg Head' in association with Happy Rest pottery. Together with other data, head sculptures appear to be a Kalundu Tradition trait. The head, long-term occupation and settlement extent show that Rhino was a chief's headquarters. The Happy Rest assemblage provides an example of interaction with different Bantu-speaking people in the region who made Mzonjani pottery, while Later Stone Age scrapers attest to interaction with hunter-gatherers. Magnetic measurements led to a re-evaluation of archaeological interpretations of the site and show the mutual benefit of the joint study.