Implications of new AMS dates for the Khami Period in the Mapungubwe Landscape

New radiocarbon dates from the Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape reveal that interactions between Sotho (Icon) and Kalanga (Khami) peoples over 200 years laid the foundation for the emergence of Venda, a distinct language and cultural entity. The study identifies two pulses of occupation during higher rainfall periods: Pulse 1 (AD 1400–1480) with eight sites and Pulse 2 (AD 1520–1590) with another eight sites or components. While Kalanga peoples occupied prime agricultural land near the Limpopo floodplains, Sotho peoples lived on the plateau to the south, leading to an unequal sharing of resources. Ceramic records document this dynamic, and initiation schools served as key sites for ethnic boundary interaction, contributing to Venda's linguistic and cultural identity.

Huffman, T. N., & Woodborne, S. (2021). Implications of new AMS dates for the Khami Period in the Mapungubwe Landscape. South African Journal of Science, 117(7/8). https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2021/9438