Early Lron Age Sites PDF

South African Archaeological Society
An Early Iron-Age Site from the Chibi District, Southern Rhodesia

Author(s): K. R. Robinson
Source: The South African Archaeological Bulletin, Vol. 16, No. 63 (Sep., 1961), pp. 75-102
Published by: South African Archaeological Society
Stable URL: https://www.jstor.org/stable/3886646
Accessed: 15-03-2020 21:50 UTC
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AN EARLY IRON-AGE SITE FROM THE CHIBI DISTRICT,
SOUTHERN RHODESIA
K. R. ROBINSON
Historical Monuments Commission, Bulawayo

INTRODUCTION
The first to record what is today generally known as 'stamped ware' was Miss G. Caton-
Thompson (1931). She recorded this class of pottery (her Class A at Zimbabwe) from the A.3
midden on the Acropolis, Zimbabwe, but although it occurred in the lowest levels it was mixed
with later sherds (Class B). It also occurred in pre-pavement positions in the Maund Ruins,
again accompanied by the Class B ware. Therefore the true horizon of this type of pottery was
not absolutely certain although it was clear that Class A pottery was probably the earliest at
Zimbabwe. Unfortunately only very small sherds were recovered so that the form of the pots
was unknown.
It was not long before Schofield (1932) described a single sherd of somewhat similar ware
from an excavation on the Salisbury commonage, recovered in association with a sealed Wilton
deposit. A few years later Schofield (1938) described a quantity of stamp-decorated pottery,
mainly grave goods, from Echo Farm, Borrowdale. In 1940 an account of the excavations at
Gokomere was published (Gardner, T., Wells, L., and Schofield, J. F., 1940). In this publica-
tion Schofield dealt with the pottery from the Iron Age levels overlying Stone Age material.
He described material from the Tunnel Site at Gokomere as being typical of the early stamp-
decorated wares in Southern Rhodesia, and he claimed Gokomere as the type site of his
Class R1 pottery. Unfortunately the bulk of the pottery from this site has been mislaid and is
not at present available for study, nor does there seem to be much hope that it ever will be.
Therefore another excavation at Gokomere is necessary for the proper understanding of the
position of the Iron Age at this site. Moreover it is possible that in view of increased knowledge
of our Iron Age gained during the last twenty years much additional information might be
obtained by re-excavation.
Class R1 type sherds have also turned up at cave sites in association with Wilton material
(Schofield, 1940; Cooke and Robinson, 1954).
Recent work at Zimbabwe (Robinson, K. R., Work on Acropolis, 1958-in the press) has
given a radiocarbon date of before A.D. 300 for the earliest Zimbabwe pottery (Caton-
Thompson's Class A, Schofield's Class R1) which I have recorded as Zimbabwe Class 1.
In Northern Rhodesia Clark (1959, p. 311) records 'Channelled Ware' people as settled
north of the Zambezi in A.D. 90 (a C14 date). Thus it will be seen that the earliest probable date
for the arrival of these people in Southern Rhodesia is likely to be between A.D. 100 and
A.D. 300. The question as to how long a period is covered by typical Zimbabwe or Gokomere
stamped wares remains to be answered. All that can be said is that as time went by the typical
early material was replaced by numerous hybrid traditions whose origins and developments
are as yet far from clear.
A radiocarbon date has been obtained recently by Bernhard (1961, p. 84) for a site on
Ziwa Farm, Inyanga, containing Ziwa ware (Summers, 1958, pp. 134-9). The date is 940+110
B.P. Ziwa ware may be a later development in our stamped ware tradition; on the other hand
it may be a variant confined to the eastern districts and contemporaneous with the material
from Zimbabwe and Gokomere. Only the systematic examination and dating of many more
sites can solve this and other problems.
The main reasons for the present publication are:
(a) This is the first recorded instance in Southern Rhodesia where Gokomere-Zimbabwe
type stamped wares have been found in association with a definite kraal-site containing
daga structures.
75
(b) The presence of considerable quantities of pottery comprising over 200 different vessels
in the form of fragments, some of which can be reconstructed on paper, and which supply
a much-needed series of type vessels.
(c) The presence of other finds such as glass, iron, copper and shell beads; iron objects and
slag from iron smelting; worked bone and bone fragments. Such finds have hitherto been
absent or extremely rare at other sites of this culture.
(d) The presence of charcoal should enable a date for the occupation to be established.
SOUT OGERN RHODESIA DE S
0 20 40 60 - 80e
Terrain
That area of the Chibi Native Reserve in which our site is located is on the watershed
between the Lundi and Tokwe rivers (fig. 1). The height above sea-level is approximately
3,200 feet. Numerous large granite hills provide shelter from the south-east whence come the
cool moisture-laden winds which blow at intervals during the winter. One of the commonest
76
trees is the baobab Adansonia digitata L. which frequently attains considerable size. The
geological formation in the area under discussion is granite; the soil is sandy and sometimes
ochreous. As is invariably the case under such conditions, drainage is good, but there are
several streams and rivers with their beds blocked with thick reed-beds, and in addition there
are patches of marshy ground. Therefore during the summer when the rains fall, malaria is
present. The rainfall for this district is 16-20 inches per annum.
Location
About 2 miles almost due west of the Native Commissioner's Offices at Chibi is the large
granite hill known as Gomanye. On the north side of this hill there is a spur of bare rounded
rock whose summit forms a table some 120 feet or so below the main summit of Gomanye.
The name of this spur is Mabveni. Round its eastern flank runs a small watercourse which has
its source at the head of a deep gorge near the summit of Gomanye itself. The site about to be
described lies on the northern bank of the watercourse sheltered from the south-east winds by
the joint protection given by Gomanye and Mabveni. The watercourse was dry during the
winter of 1960, but this was a drought period. There is an alternative water supply within a
quarter of a mile which held out during the drought. The Mabveni site is 30 miles from Zim-
babwe as the crow flies, on a bearing of 263?, the latitude and longitude being 20? 22' S.,
300 28' E.
Description of Site
It has already been stated that we are dealing with an old kraal-site. An area of several
acres shows evidence of ancient occupation. The evidence which first drew the writer's atten-
tion was the partial exposure of a collapsed and buried daga structure cut by an old sledge
track. Further searching produced odd potsherds near rodent burrows. It was then noticed
that certain level patches of ground were very thinly bushed compared to the surrounding
country, and that these patches supported a straggly kind of thorn-bush. A trial sounding
produced a few sherds of stamp-decorated pottery down to a depth of 18 inches below the
present land surface. There was no indication of midden deposit, and the earth containing the
sherds was sandy. Below 18 inches the soil was similar but more consolidated and did not
contain any sherds. In addition to these indications, two heaps composed of daga fragments
showing pole imprints were noted; these were about 4 feet in diameter. It was also noted that
the watercourse was at one point cut by a very collapsed stone wall of the type classed as 'field
walling' (Whitty, 1959). This wall, built of large undressed stones, some of which are set
upright in the earth, is 45 feet in length, and extends from the base of the Mabveni spur,
cutting the watercourse at right angles and terminating 3 yards beyond the stream on the
north bank. The walling is continued over the bed of the stream, and, although now partially
washed away, must originally have formed a small dam whenever water flowed in the channel.
It has not been possible to connect this wall definitely with the deposits containing the stamped
wares, but typical sherds were recovered from the bed of the watercourse.
The remains of a little more field walling forming a small enclosure were noted. None of
this walling is now more than 18 inches high, and is quite easily distinguished from the kind
of walling which commonly occurs on the surrounding hills datable to the Matabele raiding
period in the nineteenth century.
Finally I was fortunate in locating a thin but rich midden deposit banked up against some
low rocks in the central area of the site. This produced the majority of the finds.
Owing to the extent of the site and its irregular form, it has proved impossible to include
the whole area in the plan (fig. 2), but the position of the important excavations is shown, and
the approximate positions of the remainder indicated.
77
EXCAVATIONS
There were five separate excavations as follows:

1. A test pit dug in the centre of a clearing where sherds were noted near rodent burrows.
2. Trench I, dug on the north bank of the watercourse.
3. Trench IT, dug through the midden deposit situated in the central part of the occupation
area.
ROCKS FORMING KNOLL 10 ft. HIGH C
O E t t J~~~~~~HEAPF
~~~-> \ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ (a)
ROCKS D
ROCKY
TENCH 1 56 yds. BURIED DAGA
Trench
O..I . . .....THIN BUSH

: B -; SANDY EARTH WITH POTSHERDS
18 in. BELOW SURFACE
0 5 10 20 30
Daga ~~~~~~~~~~scale in
HEAP 1) Midden Daga fragments
(b)
2. Plan of Mabveni old kraal site.
4. Excavation of Daga Heap (a).

5. Excavation of Buried Daga Structure.
1. The Test Pit

From the present land surface to a depth of 18 inches the deposit consisted of clean sandy
earth containing some potsherds and a little iron slag. The sherds are stamp decorated. Below
18 inches no finds occurred.
78
2. Trench I
A trench measuring 6 by 4 feet in size was dug on the slope forming the north bank of the
watercourse. The stratigraphy was as follows from the surface downwards:
(1) 0 to 6 inches: Sandy earth containing sherds of stamped ware.
(2) 6 to 8 inches: Hardened by termite workings, otherwise no change.
Below 8 inches no sherds were recovered.
Finds: sherds 24; bone fragment 1.
3. Trench II
A trench measuring 20 by 6 feet was marked out in what appeared to be the most promising
part of the midden area (fig. 2). The deposit proved to be shallow but unusually rich in finds.
The trench was divided into 3-feet squares. The western half of the trench was extremely rocky,
therefore two additional squares were dug on the northern flank of the original trench to
compensate for this fact. Although a few yards east of the trench there was evidence of rodent
activities, no disturbance of this kind was noted within the trench. Tree roots were present, but
they were small. The surface of the midden deposit slopes gently from west to east.
The stratigraphy (fig. 3) from the surface downwards was as follows:
(1) 0 to 4 inches: Humic earth containing potsherds (stamped ware), some charcoal.
(2) 4 to 12 inches: Buff-coloured gritty midden. Ash content appears to have leached out.
to some extent.
(3) 12 to 24 inches: Sterile sandy earth, slightly ochreous. Not dug below 24 inches.
Abundant sherds occurred throughout layers 1 and 2, and in many instances it has proved
possible to partially reconstruct the vessels. Only one class of pottery, stamped ware resembling
that of Zimbabwe and Gokomere, is represented. Not a single sherd which can be regarded as
A
3 ft. B
111 Hum
3. Tren
typologic
Copper, i
layer 2 th
in fragme
instances
The fact
suggests
is to say,
humic ear
trench w
some inst
Finds: Potsherds 613 Clay figurines 3
Beads: glass 3, copper 10, iron 8, shell over 180
Iron objects 4 (fragments) Bone point 1
Bone fragments Teeth
The finds are described in detail in a later section of this repor
79
4. Daga Heap (a)
A glance at the plan (fig. 2) shows the relative positions of the two daga heaps (a) and
Heap (a) was selected for examination because it was more exposed than (b), and was s
in an area completely free from disturbance by rodents or trees. Before work began
apparent that the daga fragments which composed both the heaps were derived from pol
daga structures in which stout sticks averaging 2 inches in diameter had formed the frame
The stratigraphy (fig. 4) through the centre of the heap from the surface downward
as follows:
(1) 0 to 16 inches: Humic earth containing fragments of daga derived from pole and daga
structure.
(2) 16 to 22 inches: Midden ash which appears to have silted into the hollow formed in the
surface of natural earth.
(3) 22 to 38 inches: Sterile sandy earth. Not dug below the 38 inches level.
The first task was the removal of layer 1 composed of humic earth and daga fragments.
Immediately beneath layer 1, in the western half ot the trench, was exposed the broken surface
UNEXCAVATED | 3---:/ ROCK '
Daga floor =Ashy midden LIIHumic earth
1 Daga fragments [LIZSterile sandy earth
4. Daga Heap (a), section C-D.
of a daga floor 2 inches in thickness. About 6 feet from the west end of the trench this floor
ended, and gave way to the surface of a midden deposit (similar in composition to layer 2
Trench II), i.e. layer 2. The east end of the trench became blocked by the top of a large rounde
rock over which layer 1 continued. Removal of the daga floor revealed a continuation of the
midden (layer 2) below the floor, where it attained a thickness of 6 inches only and rested on
the surface of sterile sandy earth (layer 3). Directly below the daga heap, where the dagafloor
was absent, the midden was slightly thicker and appeared to have accumulated in a shallow
depression dug or worn into the surface of layer 3. There was some evidence of silting in this
depression.
Finds:
These consisted almost entirely of potsherds belonging to the same class of ware as that
recovered from Trench II. Sherds occurred at all levels above layer 3, i.e. (a) on the daga floor
sealed by daga fragments, (b) within the daga heap, (c) in the midden deposit (layer 2) below
the daga floor, (d) in the midden deposit below the daga heap. Twenty sherds were recovered.
A broken clay figurine of human type was found on the surface within a few yards of the
daga heap.
The evidence revealed in this cutting poses two important questions: (a) What is the
relationship between the pole and daga structure represented by the daga heap and the midden
deposit (layer 2), and (b) What kind of a pole and daga structure was it?
The midden (layer 2) contained sherds identical with those recorded from Trench II, i.e.
stamped wares. On the daga floor, sealed by fragments of stick-impressed daga, were found the
80
same class of sherds, while from within the daga heap itself (layer 1) the broken remains of
nearly half a decorated pot (Plate 1; fig. 10, no. 38) were recovered. Thus the evidence points
to the homogeneity of layers 1 and 2, and the daga floor. When the latter was first exposed it
looked as though it might have been dug through either at a later stage of the original occupa-
tion, or by some later settlers on the site. The latter supposition appears unlikely in view of the
pottery finds which indicate that only one type of material culture is present throughout the
deposits. The half pot recovered from within the daga heap, together with the sherds found on
the daga floor sealed by daga fragments, provide conclusive evidence that the midden and the
daga heap belong to the same cultural tradition, but, as will be shown, the formation of the
latter phenomenon was the result of later developments on the site which took place after the
midden had accumulated.
There can be little doubt as to the general nature of the original structure represented b
the heap of daga fragments, although it is difficult to be quite certain of its exact form. I thin
a dwelling-hut is unlikely (although not impossible) in view of the restricted diameter of the
area covered by the daga fragments. Some form of store-hut would seem more probabl
Careful search failed to discover post holes which might have contained the charred remains
of the poles indicated by the impressions present in the daga fragments. This fact, together w
the fact that the daga floor terminated at the edge of the daga heap, were puzzling features.
In the section (fig. 4) two stones, measuring about 18 inches in length, are shown resting on th
surface of the daga fragments composing the heap. A third stone was noted lying on t
ground near the heap. These stones could hardly have arrived in their present positions
accident. They give the impression that they belong to the site.
The following account is a very tentative reconstruction of what may have taken pla
on the site of the daga heap.
(i) A layer (2) of ashy midden accumulated to the average thickness of 6 inches, the resul
of kitchen refuse having been deposited in the area. This deposit attained a slightly grea
thickness within the depression formed in the surface of the natural earth (layer 3) against t
large rock, and here there were signs of deposition by rainwash. It is uncertain as to whether
the depression is the result of natural erosion of the original land surface near the rock face
or whether it was formed purposely by human agency. The possibility of a grave was co
sidered, but further excavation gave no indication of any disturbance in layer 3.
(ii) In the surface of the midden (layer 2) the three granite slabs already mentioned were
set on end in such a manner as to form three of the corners of a rough square; a fourth ston
not located, may have formed the remaining corner or the apex of the large rock may have
been used for this purpose. The dimensions of the square so formed were approximately 4 by
4 feet.
(iii) A flat framework of timbers was then constructed and placed on the stones in such
a manner that the latter supported the former at a height of about 12 inches above the surface
of the midden.
(iv) The wooden framework formed a level foundation upon which was constructed a
circular pole and daga store-hut, 3 to 4 feet in diameter, and 4 to 6 feet in height. The roof was
probably of thatch.
(v) The daga floor was laid down south of the store-hut, covering the midden. It terminated
at the platform carrying the store-hut.
(vi) The final destruction of this building by fire is proved by the fact that the daga has
been turned to brick. Such has been the fate of the majority of pole and daga buildings in
Africa and, although sometimes due to tribal raiding, was just as often the result of peaceful
abandonment of a kraal-site. A recent example of this was the burning of Lobengula's first
Bulawayo at Sauerdale after he had moved with all his court to the new town at the site of the
81
present Government House. The burning was, of course, by the King's orders (The Rhodesiana
Society, 1959). The burning of a normal pole and daga hut such as the Makaranga are in the
habit of constructing results in the carbonization of the wooden poles, and the firing of the
daga which becomes like brick. The walls crumble almost immediately, the woodwork is
destroyed, and the hardened fragments form a roughly circular low heap or ring. Whether a
heap or a ring is formed depends on the diameter of the hut; a small hut forms a heap. In
diameter such heaps are rarely less than 10 to 12 feet.
If the reconstruction of the store-hut is correct, then it was not unlike some which are still
being built in the Chibi district, but there is every reason to believe that fashions in huts and
other pole and daga structures have lingered on with little if any change over very long periods,
and resemblance to a modern store-hut is no proof of modernity.
There is one other point which has not been considered. That is the reason for the granite
slabs occupying a position on the daga heap. Obviously they were put there, but by whom?
Perhaps by those who had burnt the structure down. There may possibly have been some ritual
meaning in the act, but this is pure conjecture.
PLAN
A Sledge track B
W Daga fragments 1I Sil
5. Buried daga structure, pl
5.Buried Daga Structure

Approximately 200 yards north
running east to west. It was along
noted. At one place daga fragmen
come from 4 to 6 inches below th
was completely cleared of overly
82
The stratigraphy (fig. 5, Section) was as follows:
The daga fragments, 2 to 3 inches in average diameter, showed impressions of sticks j inch
in diameter, and formed a layer (2) with a maximum thickness of 6 inches. This rested on the
surface of natural sandy earth (layer 3). The natural earth was fairly consolidated, and its
surface formed a level floor hardened by the fire which destroyed the structure. The sandy earth
covering the daga fragments (layer 1) was finer in texture and much looser than layer 3. The
stratigraphy can be tabulated as follows from the surface downwards:
(1) Sandy earth: 0 to 6 inches thick.
(2) Daga fragments: 3 to 6 inches thick.
(3) Natural earth, total thickness unknown.
Finds:
Sherds: 12 from below daga fragments on floor.
Iron slag: Surface, vicinity.
Charcoal: Below daga fragments on floor.
The plan (fig. 5) does not seem to indicate a circular hut, but it is quite possible that the
original form of the building was more circular than is suggested by the outline of the area
covered by the daga fragments. Further, there is the peculiar absence of fragments in the
south-western area of the building. In this connexion the stone set in the ground, protruding
about 4 inches above the surface, may be noted.
The impression given is of a rather irregularly shaped hut, roughly circular, constructed
of a light framework of sticks and plastered with daga. The roof was presumably of thatch.
The hut appears to have been open towards the south-west. The presence of the stone suggests
that the place may have been used as a work-room of some kind, and that the former may have
acted as an anvil, although the stone did not display any obvious signs of use. The hut being
open on one side might also indicate that light was necessary for the practice of some form of
craft. It is noteworthy that the winter winds blow from a southerly direction, therefore protec-
tion against the cold must have been of secondary importance with regard to this building.
The small sherds recovered from below the daga fragments (layer 2), and lying on the
floor of natural earth, are undoubtedly stamped wares and belong to the same culture as that
recorded from the other sites at Mabveni. It is therefore safe to regard the daga structure as
also belonging to the same complex.
DESCRIPTION OF FINDS: ALL SITES

Pottery
(i) Fabric: As a general rule the clay is somewhat coarse and contains additions of white
quartz grains, but in some instances it is finer. Vessels tend to be heavy in relation to their siz
when compared with other classes of pottery, because the walls are usually thick. Here again.
however, there are exceptions and thinner ware was made for special usage. Firing was
thorough but incomplete, as is always the case when a kiln has not been employed.
(ii) Finish: This varies to an extent which is not always realized owing to the fact that
many sherds have been weathered, and the original outer surface removed. The commonest
method of finishing a pot was simply to smooth the outside with a pebble or other tool while
the clay was damp. The colour varies from buff to reddish, and grey to black or brown. A few
pots were burnished, but this was more frequently the case with bowls, and occasionally a
trace of graphite may be noted. A distinguishing feature of this ware is the sandy feeling of the
surface unless it has been burnished.
(iii) Form of Vessels: (a) Pots. These are usually of the shouldered type (figs. 7-10).
There is no instance of the neck having been made separately and fixed to the body of the pot
after fabrication of the latter. In some pots, however, the shoulder is formed by means of a
sharp and graceful curve (fig. 9, no. 23), in others there is a tendency towards a vertical or
83
~ - '
2~~~~~~~~~~~~
6. Mabveni stamped ware.
84
r~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 2
8~~~~~~~
_t e(? r. r~r~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~n nrln r-7v v-qMP nA rA-jXi____M

- -~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ r r~ ~lM P-r
13 WN r4
-N 15
"
;f pFJrl
e" -
>13
cUrL

81
20
in.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~.
cm.L

86
| N j V X , -LL-- ;:Ef~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~D~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~-----i
-~ ~ ~ ~~~~~~~~~~~~ - ---- -
in. Cm.
23~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~2
/ L -R ) @ "
29 30
33C : < s S 131
concave neck, sometimes divided into horizontal raised bands decorated with stamped
impressions or incisions (fig. 7, nos. 8-9; fig. 8, no. 22; fig. 9, no. 32; fig. 10, nos. 38-39). A
tendency towards the beaker bowl also occurs (fig. 6, no. 4; fig. 8, no. 21).
Frequently the rim has been thickened, and if decorated this invariably takes the form of
oblique lines of stamped impressions more or less rectangular in shape. Decoration as a whole
is confined to the rim band, neck and shoulder of pots. In no instance does the decoration
continue over the lip of the rim.
Out of 96 identifiable pot rim fragments only 4 were undecorated (Table I).
TABLE I
ANALYSIS OF POTTERY FROM MABVENI
Site Pots Bowls Beaker bowls Small sherds
TRENCH II Decorated 92 35 4 275

Plain 4 133 - 70
96 168 4 345
DAGA HEAP Decorated 5 1 - 8

Plain 1 3 2
6 4 -10
BURIED Decorated - - - 2
DAGA Plain - 1 - 9
STRUCTURE _ 11
TRENCH I Decorated 1 2 _ 2
Plain - 2 - 4
1 4 -6
TOTALS 103 177 4 372
Schofield (1948, p. 91) describes the ty

'a wide mouthed pot with a carinated p
projecting rim-band . . .'. His type site
sherds from Mabveni can belong to a c
represent a bowl. Sherds collected by the
of the carinated profile at all, and com
Unfortunately we have not got the origin
the proportion of carinated pots which w
is certain is that carinated profiles tend t
areas of Southern Rhodesia such as Inya
sites is required in order to solve this and
(b) Bowls were numerous, and, unlik
decorated. Three main types are recogn
1. Spherical bowls with constricted op
impressions (fig. 11, nos. 41-44).
2. Hemispherical and flared bowls. Th
undecorated (fig. 11, nos. 40-45; fig.
a bowl decorated below the lip inside
88
38 38 39
in.
cm.
I.
46~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~6etA "f
'48
I~~~~~~~~2 ~~~~~~50
51 47
54 { a
59 Fmk
12. Mabveni stamped ware. Fragment of clay amulet, pottery disks and bone point.
3. Beaker bowls varying in size, form and decoration (fig. 8, no. 21; fig. 11, no. 46;
fig. 12, no. 59).
In addition to these main types there are one or two which do not fit in, such as the small
carinated bowl no. 49, fig. 12, and the highly decorated small beaker bowl no. 50, fig. 12.
The decorated bowls are frequently burnished, sometimes inside only, but also, less
frequently, both inside and outside. Undecorated bowls are very roughly finished as a rule.
Bowls of the hemispherical form often have the rims somewhat flattened and undercut on the
inside (fig. 11, no. 40; fig. 12, no. 52). There is no sign of decoration on the top of these
flattened rims.
(iv) Decoration: The following methods were used in decoration:
(a) Rectangular impressions applied by means of some form of stamp or comb. This was
the dominant method and was frequently used alone (fig. 6; fig. 7, nos. 9-18; fig. 8, no. 21;
fig. 9, no. 23).
13. Fragment of clay figurine from Trench II.
(b) Roughly circular stabs with a stylus, perhaps applied with a bone point (fig. 12, no. 57),
stick or iron spike (fig. 9, no. 25; fig. 10, no. 38).
(c) Channelling applied with a blunt point of bone or stick. This may be shallow or deep
and frequently occurs horizontally in bands immediately below the rim-band (fig. 9, nos. 26,
29, 31, 35).
Occasionally the channelling was applied vertically to the neck of a pot as in no. 19,
fig. 8. In some cases this form of decoration degenerates into mere dragged combing, the result
of slapdash application of stick or grass stalks (fig. 8, no. 20; fig. 9, nos. 24, 26). A modified
form of channelling was sometimes employed to produce a definite pattern as in nos. 33 and
34, fig. 9.
(d) Incised decoration appears to be rare; only a few specimens occur such as nos. 53,
55 and 58, fig. 12. All decoration was applied while the clay was still damp before the vessel
was fired.
(v) Clay Figurines: Fragments of three objects belonging to this category were recovered
from Trench II, and a fourth from the surface near Daga Heap (a).
1. Too decayed for identification with any certainty.
2. May be part of an amulet pierced for suspension (fig. 12, no. 56).
3. Superficially resembles part of a cattle figurine, but closer examination shows that this is
not likely (fig. 13). Pending further finds of a similar nature any attempt at interpretation
must remain conjectural. A rather similar fragment has been found at the Tunnel Site,
Gokomere.
4. A clay cylinder which probably belongs to a human figurine.
(vi) Model Pots: Fragments of children's model pots are represented by 28 sherds. They
resemble material from many other Iron Age sites varying in date and culture.
92
(vii) Clay Bead: This object is broken in half. It was spherical in form with a diameter of
15 mm. It is not included among the beads proper because it probably belongs to the same class
of object as the figurines and model pots. It is undecorated and unburnished, and was recovered
from the midden, Trench II.
(viii) Pottery Disks: These are made from potsherds, none are bored for use as spindle
whorls, and their function is conjectural.
(ix) General Conclusions on the Pottery: The apparent absence at Mabveni of elabo-
rately decorated carinated bowls such as Schofield (1948, pp. 87-93) describes from Gokomere
may be due to the fact that Schofield's material came from within or near a rock shelter, and
may represent grave goods or other ceremonial ware. Apart from this the Mabveni pottery
appears to be virtually indistinguishable typologically from the earliest Zimbabwe and Goko-
mere stamped wares. In view of this fact a date for the Mabveni site is important.
Beads
Beads were recovered from Trench II only, and may be divided into the following catego-
ries (Table 2):
TABLE 2
BEAD CHART: TRENCH II: MABVENI
Material Colour Condition Form Dimensions Number Horizon
Glass .. .. .. White Weathered Oblate 2 by 4 mm. 1 6 in. level midden
Glass .. .. .. White Flaking Cylinder 3 by 21 mm. 1 7 in. level midden
Glass .. .. .. Indian red Altered Cylinder 3 by 4 mm. 1 8 in. level midden

over green
base
Copper .. .. Green-grey Very Collars 1 by 4 to 9 All levels midden

patinated 5 by 6 mm.
Copper .. Green-grey Very Spiral 1 by 4 to 1 All levels midden

patinated 5 by 6 mm.
Iron .. .. .. Brown Very Rings 3 by 6 mm. 8 All levels midden

corroded average
Shell, ostrich-egg shell White or Many Circular 3 to 11 mm. Over All levels midden
or snail shell (Achatina) grey broken, disk diam. 180
some burnt
Shells . .. White to Poor Complete 10 by 7 mm. 2 Midden

grey gasteropods 20 by 15mm. 1 Midden
pierced
Glass: Careful sieving of all the midden deposit in Trench 11 only produced three glass
beads, consisting of two white beads and 1 Indian red over a clear green base (Table 2). All
three came from within the midden deposit, the red on green bead from near the base of it.
Typologically all three beads can be dated to the late eighteenth or nineteenth centuries. If this
dating is correct, and the beads have not been introduced into the midden deposit by sub-
sequent disturbance, and there was no evidence of this, then the Mabveni Iron Age site
presents a clear picture of a distinctive pottery industry which had continued unchanged over
a period of approximately 1,500 years. This length of time is based on the fact that pottery,
93
similar to that from Mabveni has been dated at Zimbabwe by the radio-carbon method to
about A.D. 400 (Robinson, K. R., Work on Acropolis, 1958, in press). This would appear to be
unlikely; it would appear more probable that bead types survived over long periods with little
or no change.
I have compared the Mabveni beads with similar ones recovered from Chibi's old kraal
on Nyaningwe hill. So far as the white beads are concerned there is little superficial difference
to be noted between the Mabveni oblate and oblates from Chibi's kraal. On the other hand the
white cylinder from Mabveni does not occur among Chibi's beads. The red over green from
Mabveni is much altered, while somewhat similar beads from Chibi's kraal are in perfect
condition. Moreover, in the former bead the transparent green core is much lighter in colour
than is the case with the latter beads.
The possibility that the beads from the Trench II midden may have derived from a later
occupation of the site cannot be ruled out when deposits are so thin, but there was certainly
no evidence indicating that this might have happened, and so far as the red over green bead is
concerned, its position near the base of the midden makes this possibility extremely unlikely.
In view of the above problem let us examine the evidence available from other sites where
similar bead types have been recorded. Caton-Thompson (1931, p. 241) records the recovery
of eight white glass beads and one Indian red over clear green base from the bedrock midden
in Test A.3 on the Acropolis, Zimbabwe. These beads were not recorded by Miss Caton-
Thompson from any other excavation at Zimbabwe. It is interesting to note that it was from
the A.3 midden that stamped-ware sherds were recovered.
Mrs. E. Goodall undertook an excavation at Zimbabwe in 1943 outside the wall of
Enclosure No. VIII of Renders Ruins (Schofield, 1958, pp. 201-2), and recovered a number of
red over green beads together with large quantities of the more usual Zimbabwe beads.
Schofield comments on the presence of the red over greens which are usually regarded as late.
Mrs. Goodall has informed me that all the deposits were much disturbed, nevertheless the
occurrence of these cored beads in association with known older beads is noteworthy.
Looking further afield, in the Report on the excavations at Hyrax Hill, Nakuru, Kenya
Colony, 1937-8 (Leakey, 1945, pp. 368-70), there is a report by Beck on the beads from the
Iron Age Settlement at Site 1, together with comments by Schofield. The glass beads comprise
three deep blue cane glass cylinders, one red on green disc, and one white cane disc.
Beck considered that the blue beads could not be more recent than the Roman period.
With regard to the red on green Beck recognized that this type of bead was traded by the
shipload during the last century, but also mentions 'a closely allied specimen, which from the
way it was found cannot possibly be more recent than A.D. 200'. No date is given for the white
bead. Schofield, who also examined these beads, commented, 'The beads suggest an early
nineteenth-century date for the settlement, but that is, of course, judging from our standards'.
Mrs. Leakey considers such a recent date unlikely in view of the fact that the Masai are known
to have occupied the area during the eighteenth century, and whose cultural objects including
beads were not found within the settlement.
It is worth bearing in mind that up to the present we have had no glass beads which can
be associated without question with our earliest stamped wares, i.e. Gokomere, Zimbabwe.
Practically all our bead collections are derived from Leopard's Kopje sites (Robinson, 1959,
pp. 144-5), ruin sites and eighteenth- to nineteenth-century kraal-sites. Beads from the
Leopard's Kopje sites and the bedrock Zimbabwe beads have been regarded as our earliest,
followed by beads from the Matabeleland ruins. All these sites have yielded quantities of small
cylinders and oblates of plain cane glass, usually coloured black, yellow, red, green, blue, in
various shades, and no cored beads from sealed positions with the exception of the single
specimen from the A.3 midden at Zimbabwe. Minor differences occur, perhaps indicating
various sources of supply, but the fashion was for small self-coloured beads over a long period.
94
Then there was a sudden and complete change which lasted until recent years. This change
seems to have coincided with the break-up of the Moyo Rozwi early in the nineteenth century.
These people were dominant in the country before the coming of the Nguni, and they
undoubtedly represented the remnants of a ruling stock which had roots in the beginnings of
the Rhodesian ruin cultures.
There is reason to believe that they ruled fashion with a firm hand. Glass beads from sites
dating from the early nineteenth century, and perhaps a little earlier, tend to be larger than
before, and many new types including cored beads appear. The earlier small beads almost cease
to exist. Much of this change was due to the introduction of European trade beads, but it is
probable that the Arabs were also cashing in on the weakened state of Portuguese power on
the coast. The green over red beads, and other types such as beads made of inlaid glass, were
probably traded by the Arabs during this unsettled period.
We know, however, that some undoubtedly late beads are copies of very much earlier ones
(Lowe, 1955, p. 1), and it is quite possible that this may be the case with regard to the red on
green series, and the whites.
Therefore it would seem to be important to watch out for the possible occurrence at some
of our earlier Iron Age sites for the prototypes of some of these later beads, particularly those
which may have been traded by the Arabs.
Schofield (1958, p. 215) mentions that a blue hexagonal bead came from the second foot
at Bambandyanalo, and two from Mapungubwe hill, one from a depth of 4-6 feet on bedrock
in trench JS1, and the other from the Grave area. He goes on to remark, 'these beads are so
characteristic of the bead assemblages of later sites that it is probable that their presence here
is due to displacements'. Perhaps so, but there appears to be some reason for not taking it for
granted that certain types of beads must be invariably late.
Further discussion must be left until the charcoal collected from the midden has been
tested for a date, but it is suggested as a possibility that certain types of beads which were
introduced into Southern Rhodesia at an early date by Persian, Indian or Arab traders, later
went out of fashion or became difficult to obtain, but were again introduced in quantities when
the Portuguese began to lose their hold on the coastal trade in the eighteenth century and there
was a revival of Arab power. There is also the possibility that certain tribes continued to use
these beads all the time but that they were dominated by intrusive people such as the Shona,
whose connexion with stone walling has attracted the investigator.
Copper: These number 10, and consist of small collars or rings varying in size from 4 by 1
to 6 by 5 mm. All have been manufactured from copper strip of varying widths and hammered
over a mandrel. In all instances the join is visible. One bead shows superior workmanship and
a tendency towards the biconical form. All the beads are patinated a greenish grey.
Iron: These are extremely corroded and number 8. Their size is similar to that of the
copper beads, but owing to their condition accurate measurement is impossible, nor is it
possible to be certain how they were made, but there is no reason to suppose that they differ
from the copper beads in this respect either. Both the copper and iron beads may be duplicated
from Leopard's Kopje deposits (Robinson, 1959, p. 145). The term copper must be taken to
include possible bronze beads.
Shell: Circular disks of Achatina snail shell or ostrich-egg shell were the commonest beads
on the site, and total over 180 complete beads. The method employed to drill these beads is
not quite the same throughout. In some the hole is small (15 mm.), neat and cylindrical, while
in others, usually larger disks of ostrich-egg shell, the hole is larger and the bore conical or
biconical and not unlike the Later Stone Age shell beads. In addition to the circular fabricated
disks there are three examples of small complete shells unworked except that they are pierced
for suspension.
95
Iron Objects
Apart from iron beads, three fragments of worked iron were recovered in the form of short
lengths of rod, 3 to 4 mm. in diameter. One piece is twisted into the form of a ring.
Slag derived from the smelting of iron ore was common, and a few fragments of clay
blowpipe were recovered.
DISCUSSION
None of the excavations produced evidence of more than one occupation of the kraal-site,
nor were there any surface indications pointing to later occupation. It has been demonstrated
that Daga Heap (a), whatever its original form may have been, represents the remains of a
pole-and-daga structure built and used by the makers of the stamped ware. On the summit of
the Mabveni spur and also on other smaller hills in the vicinity there is evidence of occupation
by people making pottery very similar to, if not identical with, that class of pottery which
succeeds the stamped wares at Zimbabwe, and which I have called Zimbabwe Class 2
(Robinson, K. R., Work on Acropolis, 1958, in press).
These occupation sites are accompanied by ample midden material as a rule. Clay
figurines, particularly cattle figurines, are always common at these sites. Sites of this type may
vary to some extent in date, but none has the appearance of being very recent. Glass beads
recovered point to respectable antiquity.
Occupation sites which can be dated by tradition and finds to the nineteenth century occur
in hide-outs in the hills, and also occur in the open on the hill-sides. All these later occupation
sites are easily discovered owing to the abundance of typical potsherds and glass beads which
strew the ground in the immediate vicinity.
The fact that the area under discussion appears to have escaped subsequent occupation
can be accounted for by the following considerations: (a) Nearly all the Iron Age sites in those
areas of Chibi Native Reserve which have been examined are situated on hills; only the
occupation sites of the stamped-ware people and very recent kraal-sites of post-European
occupation date are commonly situated on level ground.* (b) The Mabveni kraal-site probably
contained cultivated patches of ground, perhaps those now marked by the absence of larger
trees, whereas later cultivators preferred the flat areas on the edge of vleis and watercourses,
where there is evidence of recent agriculture. It is possible that a slightly heavier rainfall
enabled the early inhabitants to utilize ground which subsequently became too arid for the
production of crops, but of this there is no definite evidence at present.
Evidence suggesting somewhat wetter conditions during our Early Iron Age than exist at
present has been advanced by Summers (1958, pp. 258-64, and 1960, pp. 271-2). He draws
attention to the probability that there was a period of good rainfall in Equatorial Africa
between A.D. 300 and A.D. 400, this being followed by a decrease in rainfall to a minimum
about A.D. 800. 'After which date, with many minor fluctuations, equatorial rainfall has
increased.' As evidence of a dry period in Southern Rhodesia he lists ten instances of pre-ruin
deposits being overlaid by an accumulation of sandy earth or hillwash varying in thickness
from a few inches to 2 feet. He also considers that there is evidence of increased rainfall
perhaps slightly heavier than now, about A.D. 1700, but this is more marked in the north-
eastern parts of the territory such as Inyanga than farther south.
Much more work is required in this field before it will be possible to arrive at definite
conclusions over a wide area. Local conditions, particularly in hilly districts, must have
affected the soil development at each site. This is clearly indicated in the list of sites mentioned
above (ibid., Table 2), where an occurrence of typologically early pottery on Mandau Farm
is shown as being overlaid by 6-8 inches of hillwash whereas a Leopard's Kopje deposit on
Umguzan Farm is buried beneath 18-20 inches of sterile hillwash. The fact that very heavy
* Since the work at Mabveni stamped ware associated with eroding kraal-sites has been located in the Bikita
district.
96
downpours of rain can, and do, occur in light rainfall areas must be borne in mind, and also
the fact that termites can sometimes play strange tricks. The effect of their activities with
regard to the land-surface level and top-soil over a long period does not appear to have been
studied. Personal observation has shown that old hut-sites frequently become termite mounds.
There is the indisputable fact, however, that a varying depth of sandy earth or hillwash
normally seals the ancient kraal-sites belonging to those Iron Age cultures which have been
proved to antedate our major ruins. At Mabveni sandy earth, varying in thickness from 6 to
18 inches, covers most of the occupation site; this is most clearly shown in the buried daga
structure (fig. 5). The probability that rainwash has caused some erosion in the midden area
has been discussed. This is likely to have taken place before any humic cover had time to form.
The Daga Heap (a) is much more exposed to view than is the case with regard to (b). The
former is sited higher up the slope near rocks where there is more rainwash than on the level
ground on which the latter heap is located.
I consider that the evidence at Mabveni is not sufficient at present to justify any con-
clusions with regard to climatic change; in fact any evidence there is would appear to point
towards very little if any change in rainfall having occurred. The accumulation of sandy earth
covering most of the site, which must have formed after the place had been abandoned, may
perhaps indicate a period during which there was widespread deposition, and therefore a dry
period. On the other hand Wilton (Later Stone Age) camping-sites in the vicinity are not
covered by more than 2 to 3 inches of sand. This rather suggests the possibility that the forma-
tion of sandy layers overlying Iron Age sites in some instances may be due to very local causes.
Although the Mabveni people almost certainly practised agriculture, and may have been
among the first to introduce the art into the country, it does not follow that they cultivated on
a large scale. On the contrary, it would appear more likely that their activities in this respect
were limited. It must be remembered that their iron smelting could produce weapons for
hunting game as well as hoes. Thus it would appear that at Mabveni the stamped-ware people
were occupying land which, although it suited their simple requirements, did not attract
subsequent settlers to the area.
Stamped-ware sites are rarely on hills, while if they are, as on the Zimbabwe Acropolis
hill, there is usually adequate natural protection from cold winds. When people began to make
regular use of hills for their dwelling-sites they may have been actuated by one or more of
several motives. Hills provide protection against attack by enemies, human or animal; they
are more healthy than level ground in malarious areas; sacred shrines are frequently sited on
hills; and the dwellings of chiefs, sometimes connected with ancestral graves or places of
worship, are usually raised above those of the commonalty. There seems reason to believe,
therefore, that the stamped-ware people were (a) not in fear of attack by human enemies, and
had the means of repelling dangerous animals, (b) used to living in a warm, sheltered country
where malaria was endemic, (c) perhaps without great chiefs such as we know were usual
among people such as the Shona, (d) skilled at iron smelting and working, and at least users of
copper, (e) probably agriculturists, (f) small-stock keepers (sheep), (g) trading with the coast
(glass beads and marine shells).
The question of date must remain open until the charcoal collected from Trench It has
been tested by the radiocarbon method.
The only alternative evidence of date, the three glass beads, is open to more than one
interpretation (see pp. 93-5), and an early or a late date might equally well be argued by the
bead types.
Personally, basing my views on the general appearance of the site and the class of pottery,
I do not at present favour a late date for this culture. Although it may well be later than the
earliest occupation period at Zimbabwe, I shall be surprised if it is much later. However, if the
radiocarbon tests eventually prove that a very recent date must be considered, this would
97
really be of extraordinary interest, as it would show that this class of stamped ware was made
and used over a very long period with no distinguishable change in fabric, form or decoration.
This appears to be unlikely, although it is, of course, a possibility.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My thanks are due to Mr. Stuart Irwin, Zoological Assistant at the National Museum,
Bulawayo, for very kindly identifying the teeth, and also to Mr. C. K. Cooke, Hon. Secretary
of the Historical Monuments Commission, Southern Rhodesia, for finding time to read
through the paper and check the text.
APPENDIX A
FAUNAL REMAINS
Vertebrate fauna
Mr. M. P. S. Irwin, Zoological Assistant, National Museum, Bulawayo, Southern
Rhodesia, reports as follows:
The animal remains listed below were submitted to me for identification by K. R. Robin-
son, Chief Inspector for the Historical Monuments Commission.
A large number of fragments were not identifiable for lack of comparative material, but
it was possible to name specifically the following teeth.
Bovidae
Ovis aries. Domestic sheep.
Lower ramus with accompanying teeth of two sub-adult individuals, and a single
upper molar of same.
Syncerus caffier Buffalo.

Upper molar of a medium-sized buffalo, probably a female. This individual tooth is
slightly smaller than the average range available for comparison, but appears to be
of an adult animal.
Aepycerus melampus. Impala.
A single lower molar.
Connochaetes taurinus. Blue Wildebeest.
A single lower molar.
Equidae
Equus quagga (sensu lato). Common Zebra.

Three upper molars.
All the teeth listed above came from the midden deposit revealed in Trench II which has
been described in this report.
Invertebrate fauna
Dr. K. H. Barnard, Hon. Curator, Mollusca, South African Museum, Cape Town, South
Africa, reports as follows:
Two species are present and both are marine, and common in shallow water and
estuaries.
Both are solid shells, and would stand up to considerable wear strung as necklaces. The
larger one when fresh is glossy and polished, and ornamental.
One larger:
Polynices mammilla (Linne) (family Naticidae)
Natal and East coast of Africa.
Grows to 40-50 mm. long.
98
Two smaller:
Nassa kraussiana (Dunker) (family Nassidae)
Common in estuaries from Plettenberg Bay (Cape) to Portuguese East Africa.
Specimens submitted are full grown.
APPENDIX B
DESCRIPTION OF POTTERY IN TEXT-FIGURES
Note. Throughout the clay is inclined to be coarse with the addition of quartz
otherwise stated all sherds come from the midden Trench II.
Fig. 6. (1) Rim sherd of shouldered pot, rim slightly thickened and rolled. Dark grey mat
finish. Stamped decoration on rim.
(2) As above but finished reddish mat and stamped decoration on neck and
shoulder as well as rim.
(3) As in no. 1 but decoration better applied and reddish mat finish.
(4) Rim sherd of beaker bowl. Reddish mat finish. Stamped decoration forms rim-
band (not thickened) and perhaps arcades on neck.
(5) Rim sherd as no. 3.
(6) Rim sherd showing projecting rim-band. Brown mat finish. Stamped decoration
on rim, and line of stamps at the junction of neck with shoulder.
(7) Rim sherd. Reddish mat finish. Poorly applied stamped decoration on rim, and
line of stamps below rim.
Fig. 7. (8) Fragment of shouldered pot with thickened rim and slightly raised decorated
band below rim. Clay very coarse. Buff mat finish. Decoration consists of
stamped impressions on rim and neck. Immediately below these are vertical
scratchings probably made with grass stalks on twigs dragged in the wet clay.
There has been a line of stamps running round the vessel just below these marks.
(9) Rim of pot with a concave neck completely decorated with rectangular stamp
marks. Natural dark grey mat finish.
(10) Rim sherd of pot similar to no. 8. Buff mat finish.
(11) Rim sherd of pot with a concave neck. Buff mat finish. Band of stamp impres-
sions below the rim.
(12) Rim sherd, perhaps beaker bowl. Natural grey mat finish. Stamped band below
undecorated rim rests on horizontal channelling.
(13) Rim sherd of pot with a concave neck. Buff mat finish. Rim and neck decorated
with stamp impressions.
(14) Rim sherd of unusual form. Perhaps a bowl with vertical sides. Smoothed grey
finish. Decoration consists of narrow band of stamps just below rim.
(15) Rim sherd, probably belongs to a beaker bowl. Finished as in no. 14 and similar
type of decoration.
(16) Rim sherd of perhaps large bowl. Buff mat finish. Stamped decoration below
rim.
(17) Rim sherd, probably a bowl. Buff mat finish. Stamped decoration just below
rim.
(18) Rim sherd of pot with outwardly turned rim. Buff mat finish. Coarse stamped
decoration.
Fig. 8. (19) Rim sherd of shouldered pot. Natural dark grey mat finish. Decoration consists
of oblique lines of stamped impressions on the thickened rim-band, immediately
below which are shallow vertical channels round neck. Some form of stamped
decoration existed below the channelling.
99
(20) Rim sherd of shouldered pot. Finish as in no. 19. Decoration is a combination
of stamped impressions and horizontally dragged grass stalks.
(21) Beaker bowl. Buff mat finish. Stamp marks round rim, and stamped band
I inch wide 1 inch below rim.
(22) Fragment of shouldered pot with two raised bands round neck. Stamped
decoration.
Fig. 9. (23) Fragment of shouldered pot. Patchy reddish mat finish. Note graceful curve
where neck joins body of vessel. Slightly thickened rim-band decorated with
stamped rectangular impressions, also single row of stamps running round the
pot at base of neck.
(24) Rim sherd of a pot with a thickened rim-band measuring over 12 inches across
the mouth. Brown mat finish. Stamped rim-band, and neck decorated by means
of horizontal combing with grass stalks.
(25) Fragment of a pot with a conical neck. Burnished dark grey inside and out.
Decoration consists of two slightly raised stamp decorated bands immediately
below the rim (Plate II).
(26) As in no. 24 but channelling takes the place of dragged grass stalks.
(27) Rim sherd. Buff mat finish. Decoration combines stamped impressions and
channelling. The rim is obliquely bevelled.
(28) Rim sherd. Buff mat finish. Thickened rim decorated with stamp impressions.
Deep horizontal channels below rim.
(29) Body sherd, base of neck. Dark grey mat finish. Horizontal channelling with a
row of stab marks running round the base of the former.
(30) Body sherd from large and heavy vessel with an out-turned neck. Grey mat
finish. Traces of channelled type of decoration.
(31) Body sherd from carinated pot or bowl. Grey mat finish. Shallow channels ran
round vessel.
(32) Rim sherd of a pot 5 inches across the mouth. Burnished brown inside and out.
Decorated with raised bands obliquely hatched. Rim-band undecorated. This
was a very well finished vessel.
(33) Body sherd from pot with a superior finish. Dark grey, smoothed or burnished.
Type of decoration is unusual and well executed by means of light channelling.
The motif probably occurred at intervals on the line of the shoulder.
(34) Body sherd. Buff mat finish. Decoration of interest because it shows an attempt
at the triangle which is apparently rare in this industry.
(35) Body sherd. Buff mat finish. Decoration consists of deeply marked channels.
(36) Rim sherd of undecorated pot. Poorly finished buff mat.
(37) Rim sherd as above but finished black.
Fig. 10. (38) Pot with a concave neck. Buff mat finish. Decorated below the rim with decora-
tive bands formed by rows of circular stylus marks and oblique grooves. From
within Daga Heap (a) (Plate 1).
(39) Pot with slightly conical neck decorated with two raised bands. Buff mat, but
may have been burnished originally. The irregular triangles formed by stamps
below the neck are noteworthy and may be compared with no. 34, fig. 9.
Fig. 11. (40) Portion of a large hemispherical bowl nearly 16 inches across the mouth. Rim
internally bevelled and undercut. Buff to dark grey smoothed finish. Decorated
below rim internally with two rows of interrupted stylus stabs.
(41) Rim sherd of bowl with constricted opening. Burnished dark grey inside and
out, traces of graphite. Decoration consists of a series of horizontal channels
100
forming a band 1 inch wide round the bowl immediately below rim. The band
is bounded by single lines of stamped impressions.
(42) As above but decorative band is made up of stamped impressions.
(43) As above, smoothed brown (Plate II).
(44) As above.
(45) Rim fragment of flared bowl. Grey to buff smoothed finish. Band of obliquely
applied stamps below rim.
(46) Rim fragment of beaker bowl measuring 12 inches across the mouth. Burnished
a dark grey inside and outside rim. Remainder of vessel smoothed. Decoration
consists of two narrow bands of oblique stamped hatching below the slightly
thickened rim-band.
Fig. 12. (47) Portion of a deep bowl 13 inches across the mouth. Roughly smoothed, buff to
reddish.
(48) Rim sherd of bowl. Smoothed black outside, buff inside.
(49) Rim sherd of a bowl with a slightly carinated profile. Weathered outside,
smoothed buff inside. From the watercourse, Mabveni.
(50) Fragment of beaker bowl only 5 inches across the mouth. Smoothed buff finish.
Decorated with coarse rectangular stamp impressions. From Trench 1.
(51) Sherd, perhaps bowl rim. Flattened and outwardly bevelled. Coarse grey fabric.
(52) Bowl rim fragment very sharply turned inwards. Burnished brown inside and
out.
(53) Body sherd from very small pot, probably child's model. Well made and fired.
Smoothed grey. Poorly decorated on shoulder.
(54) Fragment of flared bowl with a bevelled rim. Smoothed brown outside, a trace
of graphite burnish inside. Decoration consists of a band 14 inch wide made up
of three narrow bands of oblique channelling and divided by single lines of
stamped rectangular impressions.
(55) Rim sherd of small bowl with slightly constricted opening. Smoothed buff
finish. Two rows of stamps bound a band formed by horizontally applied
scratchings about I inch below rim.
(56) Burnt clay amulet or figurine which has been pierced, presumably for suspen-
sion. From Trench 1I.
(57) Bone point, one tip broken off. Original cut marks are visible, and there has
been little attempt to smooth the shaft. This object could be intended for use as
(a) arrow tip, (b) nose plug, (c) stylus for marking pottery while the clay was
still soft.
(58) Rim sherd of flared bowl with bevelled rim. Brown, smoothed outside and
burnished inside. Decorated as in no. 55, but technique is superior.
(59) Rim sherd, perhaps large beaker bowl. Smoothed black. Decoration I inch
below rim is made up of a band of coarse stamped rectangular impressions
overlying a band of oblique channelling.
(60) Small pottery disk made from a pot sherd. Undecorated, rough grey finish.
The purpose of these disks is conjectural. No pierced ones were recovered.
(61) Larger pottery disk as above.
Fig. 13. Fragment of burnt clay figurine from Trench II. A, B and C give three views of this
peculiar object. Smoothed mat finish.
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CATON-THOMPSON, G. 1931. Zimbabwe Culture. Oxford: Clarendon Press.
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CLARK, J. D. 1959. The Prehistory of Southern Africa. Harmondsworth: Pelican Books.
COOKE, C. K., & ROBINSON, K. R. 1954. Excavations at Amadzimba Cave, Matopo Hills. Occ. Pap. nat. Mus.
S. Rhod. 19, 699-728.
GARDNER, T., WELLS, L. H., & SCHOFIELD, J. F. 1940. The Recent Archaeology of Gokomere, Southern
Rhodesia. Trans. roy. Soc. S. Afr. 28, 219-253.
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SCHOFIELD, J. F. 1940. A report on the Pottery from Bambata Cave. S. Afr. J. Sci. 38, 361-372.
SCHOFIELD, J. F. 1948. Primitive Pottery. S. Afr. archaeol. Soc. Handbook Series. 3, 1-220.
SUMMERS, R. 1958. Inyanga. Cambridge: Cambridge Press.
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S. Afr. archaeol. Bull. 14, 57-59.
1O2
PLATE 1
A. Fragment of pot from Daga Heap (a) (fi 10, no. 38).
B. Pot and Bowl fragments from Trench II (fig. 9, no. 25; fig. II, no. 43).

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South African Archaeological Society

An Early Iron-Age Site from the Chibi District, Southern Rhodesia

Historical Monuments Commission, Bulawayo

SOUT OGERN RHODESIA DE S

There were five separate excavations as follows:

ROCKS FORMING KNOLL 10 ft. HIGH C

TENCH 1 56 yds. BURIED DAGA

O..I . . .....THIN BUSH

2. Plan of Mabveni old kraal site.

4. Excavation of Daga Heap (a).

1. The Test Pit

UNEXCAVATED | 3---:/ ROCK '

Daga floor =Ashy midden LIIHumic earth

1 Daga fragments [LIZSterile sandy earth

4. Daga Heap (a), section C-D.

W Daga fragments 1I Sil

5. Buried daga structure, pl

5.Buried Daga Structure

DESCRIPTION OF FINDS: ALL SITES

6. Mabveni stamped ware.

_t e(? r. r~r~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~n nrln r-7v v-qMP nA rA-jXi____M

7. Mabveni stamped ware.

8. Mabveni stamped ware.

9. Mabveni stamped ware.

Site Pots Bowls Beaker bowls Small sherds

TRENCH II Decorated 92 35 4 275

DAGA HEAP Decorated 5 1 - 8

TOTALS 103 177 4 372

Schofield (1948, p. 91) describes the ty

10. Mabveni stamped ware.

11. Mabveni stamped ware.

13. Fragment of clay figurine from Trench II.

BEAD CHART: TRENCH II: MABVENI

Material Colour Condition Form Dimensions Number Horizon

Glass .. .. .. White Weathered Oblate 2 by 4 mm. 1 6 in. level midden

Glass .. .. .. White Flaking Cylinder 3 by 21 mm. 1 7 in. level midden

Glass .. .. .. Indian red Altered Cylinder 3 by 4 mm. 1 8 in. level midden

Copper .. .. Green-grey Very Collars 1 by 4 to 9 All levels midden

Copper .. Green-grey Very Spiral 1 by 4 to 1 All levels midden

Iron .. .. .. Brown Very Rings 3 by 6 mm. 8 All levels midden

Shells . .. White to Poor Complete 10 by 7 mm. 2 Midden

Syncerus caffier Buffalo.

Equus quagga (sensu lato). Common Zebra.

DESCRIPTION OF POTTERY IN TEXT-FIGURES

BERNHARD, F. 0. 1961. Ziwa Ware of Inyanga. NADA. 36, 84-92.

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