KwaGandaganda is an Early Iron Age (EIA) site in the .Mngeni valley (KwaZulu-Nata~ South
Africa). Three cultural phases, Msuluzi, Ndondondwane and Ntshekane, dating between AD 620-
AD 1030 were identified. The objective was to establish the extent of animal exploitation during
the EIA in KwaZulu-Natal by means of faunal analysis, using internationally accepted methods.
The collection included 41 006 fragments of which 22.9% were identifiable. A large number of
species (68) were identified, including Rattus rattus. The collection yielded the largest quantity of
ivory chips ever found on an EIA site in southern Africa, as well as an extensive variety of
pathological specimens, mostly from Bos taurus. Several possible divining bones were present in
the sample. Herd management, hunting strategies, gathering activities, fishing and trading of animal
goods during the EIA were discussed, while the consequences of the unique excavation methods
(i.e. the use of bulldozers) were also commented upon. / Anthropology and Archaeology / M.A. (Anthropology)
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:unisa/oai:uir.unisa.ac.za:10500/18087 |
| Date | 11 1900 |
| Creators | Beukes, Catharina F. |
| Contributors | Boeyens, J. C. A. (Jan C. A.), Plug, Ina |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Dissertation |
| Format | 1 online resource (xxi, 348 leaves) : illustrated |
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