Global ETD Search

11	Assessing water quality status by means of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model around Mapungubwe National Park, Limpopo Province, South Africa Mathetsa, Steven Matome 12 1900 (has links) Freshwater resources play an important role in the integrity of natural ecosystems as well as livelihoods of communities. However, South Africa has limited freshwater resources and many of this country’s inland water streams are polluted as a result of human activities. Various legislations such as the National Water Act (Act No. 36 of 1998) were promulgated in order to address the issue of sustainable management of these resources. In this study, the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) model was applied to determine water quality challenges and threats in and around the Mapungubwe National Park and Heritage Site (MNPHS). This study area was declared as a heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and is also a national park. Several research objectives were formulated and various methodologies were used to address the research aim. In determining land uses around the study area, site visits, visual inspections, literature reviews as well as the analysis of the national land use data were undertaken. Various land uses that have potential to negatively impact water quality were identified. In order to determine the status of water quality in the study area, water samples were analysed in-situ and in the laboratory. The results obtained showed that water quality was generally compliant with a few exceptions. For example, the concentrations of nitrates, microbes, and few metals such as mercury and beryllium were not complying with water quality guidelines and standards. Finally, in formulating the DPSIR framework for the MNPHS, a participatory approach was used where stakeholders were interviewed by means of a questionnaire. One of the most salient finding of the DPSIR modelling in this study was institutional weaknesses associated with the poor implementation of existing water related laws and regulations. The study also highlighted a few recommendations for further action and research. / Environmental Sciences / M.Sc. (Environmental Management) DPSIR Freshwater resources Water quality Land use UNESCO 363.7394096825 Water -- Pollution -- Case study Freshwater ecology -- Case study
12	Interconnections : Glass beads and trade in southern and eastern Africa and the Indian Ocean - 7th to 16th centuries AD Wood, Marilee January 2012 (has links) Glass beads comprise the most frequently found evidence of trade between southern Africa and the greater Indian Oceanbetween the 7th and 16th centuries AD. In this thesis beads recovered from southern African archaeological sites are organized into series, based on morphology and chemical composition determined by LA-ICP-MS analysis. The results are used to interpret the trade patterns and partners that linked eastern Africa to the rest of the Indian Ocean world, as well as interconnections between southern Africa andEast Africa. Comprehensive reports on bead assemblages from several archaeological sites are presented, including: Mapungubwe, K2 and Schroda in the Shashe-Limpopo Basin; Chibuene in southern Mozambique; Hlamba Mlonga in eastern Zimbabwe; Sibudu Cave in KwaZulu-Natal, Kaole Ruins in Tanzania and Mahilaka in northwest Madagascar. The conclusions reached show that trade relationships and socio-political development in the south were different from those on the East Coast and that changes in bead series in the south demonstrate it was fully integrated into the cycles of the Eurasian and African world-system. glass trade beads glass analysis LA-ICP-MS 7th to 16th century Indian Ocean trade southern Africa East Africa Mapungubwe K2 Schroda Chibuene Hlamba Mlonga Sibudu Cave Kaole Ruins Mahilaka.
13	A systematics for interpreting past structures with possible cosmic references in Sub-Saharan Africa Wade, Richard Peter 05 May 2009 (has links) This thesis presents a method of identifying astronomical expressionsinherent within the spatial geography, cultural landscapes, and layouts of structures with a view to implementing the systematics in an African context. In determining astronomical codes of the southern African pre - early farmer and metalworking archaeological sites - this review deals with oral tradition, rituals, formative calendars, fertility, meteorites, eclipses, bio-diversity, sustainable agriculture, rainmaking and the general star lore. Conclusions are drawn from the hypothesis that certain structures functioned as astronomical expressions by use of monoliths and other configurations, with specific examples of how these possibilities were drawn from aspects within the Mapungubwe/Zimbabwe Cultural Complex and the preceding riverine cultural formations. / Dissertation (MSc(Applied Science))--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Architecture / unrestricted Ethnoastronomy Tourism Ancient africa Technologies and applied sciences Oral history Social sciences History Gamma-ray astronomy Computer simulation Ethno mathematics Mathematical literacy Astronomy Indigenous knowledge systems Lemba (culture) History Anthropology Culture and identity Agriculture Archaeology Historical astronomy Heritage Archaeoastronomy Calendars Cosmology Spatial geography Cultural landscapes Cave art Machema Mapungubwe Stelae Megaliths Monoliths Socialecology Heritage management Cultural landscape Cultural ecology Heritage conservation Systematics Heritage assessment Entoptic Cognitive anthropology Precision agriculture Indigenous material culture Venda Shona Sustainable agriculture Meteorology Cognitive Architecture Cosmic reference Neuropsychological theory Agricultural sciences Rainmaking Oral tradition UCTD

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