Publications
Implications of new AMS dates for the Khami Period in the Mapungubwe Landscape
New radiocarbon dates from Khami Ruins National Monument reveal that the interaction between Sotho (Icon) and Kalanga (Khami) peoples over approximately 200 years played a pivotal role in the emergence of Venda as a distinct language and cultural entity. The study, using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) dating, identified two pulses of occupation: Pulse 1 (AD 1400–1480) with eight sites and Pulse 2 (AD 1520–1590) with eight components or sites. While Kalanga people occupied fertile agricultural land near the Limpopo floodplains, Sotho peoples inhabited the southern plateau, leading to an unequal but significant resource-sharing dynamic. Initiation schools on ethnic boundaries facilitated cultural exchange, contributing to the formation of Venda's linguistic and macro-cultural identity.
Landscapes and Ethnicity: An Historical Archaeology of Khami-Phase Sites in Southwestern Zimbabwe
A groundbreaking analysis of Khami-phase sites in southwestern Zimbabwe reveals that radiocarbon dating can validate oral traditions and documentary sources, offering new insights into the Rozvi dynasty's past. By comparing dates from three ancient capitals—Danamombe, Naletale, and Zinjanja—the study provides a more precise archaeological timeline for these historically significant sites. This approach sheds light on the rise and spread of Khami-phase settlements, addressing long-standing questions about their dynastic and ethnolinguistic formations.
Memory and cultural landscape at the Khami World Heritage site, Zimbabwe: an un-inherited past
Archaeological research at Khami Ruins National Monument, Zimbabwe, reveals a disconnect between the material remains of ancient Zimbabwean Culture sites and their cultural memory. While studies have extensively documented the physical structures and artifacts, this work highlights that these sites often lack living connections to contemporary communities, suggesting an 'un-inherited past.' The study employs a blend of traditional archaeological methods—such as analysis of material remains—and qualitative approaches to explore how cultural landscapes are remembered or forgotten over time. This dual approach underscores the importance of integrating historical narratives with modern interpretations to preserve and understand the significance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
The Chronology of Insiza Cluster Khami‐Phase Sites in South‐Western Zimbabwe: Compositional Insights from pXRF and Raman Analysis of Excavated Exotic Glass Finds
A study analyzing glass beads and fragments from Khami-phase sites (15th–19th centuries) in south-western Zimbabwe reveals distinct chronological patterns linked to occupational layers. Compositional analysis using pXRF and Raman spectroscopy identified Indo-Pacific beads dating to the 15th–17th centuries at Zinjanja and early Danamombe layers, correlating with Torwa occupation. European beads and a high-lime, low-alkali glass fragment from the 16th–19th centuries were found in later stratigraphic layers of Danamombe and Naletale, aligning with Rozvi occupation. Gomoremhiko contained a Mapungubwe–Zimbabwe bead series (13th–15th centuries), suggesting an earlier phase than other sites. All European beads exhibited soda-lime plant-ash glass with high alumina, consistent with Mediterranean production traditions.
Khami
The management of heritage sites, such as the Khami World Heritage Site in Zimbabwe, is profoundly influenced by national narratives and cultural contexts. This study reveals that a site's significance in the national narrative, shaped by factors like culture, identity, and rights, determines its conservation approach. The research analyzes how local and national memory, alongside criteria for identification and management, impact heritage policies. It argues that the historical celebration of a nation and the context of a heritage place are pivotal in shaping its management strategies. By examining Khami's cultural landscape, the study provides insights into broader trends affecting World Heritage Site conservation.
Memory and Cultural Landscape at the Khami World Heritage Site, Zimbabwe
A critical analysis of the Khami World Heritage Site, Zimbabwe, reveals how colonial heritage management and national narratives shape cultural landscapes, often at the expense of local community interests. The study exposes epistemic violence embedded in conservation practices, highlighting a disjuncture between official memory and lived experiences. Using archival research, traditional narratives, and firsthand archaeological experience, it constructs a biography for Khami, contrasting its fading historical significance with Great Zimbabwe's central role in national identity. This case study offers insights into heritage, identity, and landscape from an African perspective, challenging conventional approaches to cultural preservation.
Placing Khami
Khami Ruins National Monument stands as a testament to the Torwa state's architectural and political legacy. This study reveals that Khami, located 22 kilometers from Bulawayo, served as the capital of the Torwa state, which maintained the tradition of constructing monumental stone buildings. The site covers 420 hectares and includes nine stone-built platforms, though some ruins near the Khami River have been affected by modern infrastructure like staff houses and a dam. The research leverages Portuguese descriptions to fill gaps in historical knowledge about Khami and its connection to the Mutapa court and Great Zimbabwe.
The chronology, craft production and economy of the Butua capital of Khami, southwestern Zimbabwe
New radiocarbon dating reveals Khami, the precolonial capital of the Butua kingdom in southwestern Zimbabwe, emerged as a significant political and economic power by the late 14th century—earlier than previously thought. Analysis of material culture from both walled and non-walled areas indicates household-based craft production was widespread, with pottery making, metalworking, ivory working, agriculture, and animal husbandry forming key economic pillars. The presence of local and exotic objects suggests Khami's integration into regional trade networks, reinforcing its role as a major center during the late medieval period.
An archaeological study of the Zimbabwe Culture capital of Khami, southwestern Zimbabwe
Archaeological research at Khami Ruins National Monument, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former capital of the Zimbabwe Culture, reveals significant insights into the political and social dynamics of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe. The study highlights the strategic urban planning and architectural sophistication of the site, including its defensive structures, which suggest a complex societal organization during its peak in the 15th century. Using a combination of surface surveys, test pits, and artifact analysis, researchers mapped the ruins' layout, uncovering evidence of specialized craft production and trade networks that extended beyond the region. These findings challenge previous assumptions about the site's function, emphasizing its role not only as an administrative center but also as a hub of cultural exchange.
Post-colonial heritage conservation in Africa: perspectives from drystone wall restorations at Khami World Heritage site, Zimbabwe
Modern heritage conservation practices at Khami World Heritage site in Zimbabwe reveal a tension between indigenous beliefs and Western restoration principles. While post-colonial restorations, particularly drystone wall repairs between 2000 and 2015, preserved the site's structural integrity to avoid delisting, they disrupted local traditions that viewed Khami as a sacred resting place for ancestors with minimal human intervention. The study highlights how these compromises—balancing international conservation standards with local spiritual significance—sustain Khami's economic value as a tourist destination while acknowledging their limitations in fully aligning with indigenous practices.
The Challenges of Managing an Archaeological Heritage Site in a Declining Economy: The Case of Khami World Heritage Site in Zimbabwe
Local communities' degradation of the Khami archaeological site in Zimbabwe is linked to socio-economic challenges stemming from the country's economic decline and colonial history. The study finds that poverty and economic constraints have led to a lack of respect for cultural heritage protection among residents, exacerbating the site's deterioration. Researchers analyzed Khami's history, architecture, and the surrounding landscape, arguing that the negative attitude toward heritage management is deeply rooted in historical and current socio-economic factors. This case highlights the critical need for sustainable economic strategies to preserve archaeological sites in declining economies.
Khami and the Venda in the Mapungubwe Landscape
Archaeological research at Khami Ruins National Monument reveals significant differences between the 15th–16th century Khami occupation and the later Venda period. Unlike the 19th-century Venda capitals, which housed around 350 people in dense chiefdoms, the earlier Khami phase supported thousands living on cattle posts and agricultural villages under more consistent rainfall. The study also documents a gradual cultural shift, with the Venda-speaking Machete chiefdom acculturating into Sotho-speaking groups by the time Mapungubwe was discovered in the 1930s. This work sheds light on the dynamic social and environmental changes in the Mapungubwe landscape, combining archaeological evidence with historical analysis to reconstruct past settlement patterns and cultural transitions.
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