Historyhttp://hdl.handle.net/10311/992024-03-28T23:39:46Z2024-03-28T23:39:46ZA Leopard's Kopye burial at Mathangwane in northeastern Botswanavan Waarden, CatrienMosothwane, Morongwa N.http://hdl.handle.net/10311/13542016-08-13T00:02:18Z2013-01-01T00:00:00ZA Leopard's Kopye burial at Mathangwane in northeastern Botswana
van Waarden, Catrien; Mosothwane, Morongwa N.
We report on a rare northern Leopard's Kopje grave in Botswana of a male from a small settlement, who, nonetheless, was buried with nine pots and many trade beads. The set of whole and decorated pots with traces of the contents give an indication of the quantity and nature of the funeral food and the customs surrounding this so-called 'pot burial '. The beads are similar to those atK2and confirm trade with this region at 900 km inland from the east coast. Many of the beads were, however, denitrified. Skeletal analysis indicates unusual wear patterns of the teeth and enlarged clavicles, as well as a fused finger. These probably resulted from certain habits and activities. Comparison with contemporary Leopard's Kopje and Toutswe burials shows similarities in line with Central Cattle Pattern burial practices, yet the quantity of grave goods and the skeletal characteristics are indeed significant. Ethnography of Shona burial practices is used for insights into the meaning of location, orientation, position of the burial, and placement and nature of the grave goods.
2013-01-01T00:00:00ZDietary stable carbon isotope signatures of the Early Iron Age inhabitants of NgamilandMosothwane, Morongwa N.http://hdl.handle.net/10311/13472016-08-13T00:01:15Z2011-01-01T00:00:00ZDietary stable carbon isotope signatures of the Early Iron Age inhabitants of Ngamiland
Mosothwane, Morongwa N.
The wide spread presence of Late Stone Age (LSA) and Early Iron Age (EIA) communities such as at the Tsodilo Hills, Matlapaneng, Serondela, Qogana, and other sites have been documented in Ngamiland, nofthwestetn Botswana (Denbow 1980, 1986a, 1986b, 1999; Campbell 1982; Wilmsen & Denbow 2005). Radiocarbon dates from many of these sites are generally around the middle of the second millennium AD (Campbell 1982; Denbow 1986b;Wilmsen & Denbow 2005). The sequences of both LSA and EIA settlements show that the area was occupied continuously for several centuries. As early as the 6th century AD LSA hunter-gatherers and EIA fatmers of the Tsodilo Hills co-existed within a few kilometres of each other (see Denbow, this volume and Wilmsen, this volume).
This study attempts to reconstruct the diets of the inhabitants of these sites using stable carbon isotope signatures of human and animal remains. Therefore, the sites included in this reporl are those where human graves have been excavated in the past mainly Divuyr, Nqoma, and Xaro. Reports indicate that other human remains may have been excavated in the past but their whereabouts are unknown. As such those sites have been excluded from this study. There three sites included in the site are all associated with the ElA period. Two of the sites, Dimyu and Nqoma, are both in the Tsodilo Hills while Xaro is along the banks of the Okavango River.
2011-01-01T00:00:00ZAn ethnographic study of initiation schools among the Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela at Mochudi (1874-1988)Mosothwane, Morongwa N.http://hdl.handle.net/10311/13372016-08-13T00:01:52Z2001-01-01T00:00:00ZAn ethnographic study of initiation schools among the Bakgatla ba ga Kgafela at Mochudi (1874-1988)
Mosothwane, Morongwa N.
In and around the Makgadikgadi Pans there are several archaeological sites that have been interpreted as places were initiation rites took place in ancient times. But how can one tell they were initiation sites? This paper attempts to answer this by looking at modem initiation ceremonies among the Bakgatla of Mochudi and the "sites" they produce. Identifying ancient initiation sites may not be as simple as it seems.
2001-01-01T00:00:00ZBid to settle Jewish refugees from Nazi-Germany in Botswana, 1938-1939Makgala, C.J.http://hdl.handle.net/10311/11602016-08-13T00:15:00Z2006-01-01T00:00:00ZBid to settle Jewish refugees from Nazi-Germany in Botswana, 1938-1939
Makgala, C.J.
This article demonstrates that while Adolf Hitler's Nazis were busy persecuting Jews in Germany there was an attempt made by the colonial authorities in Botswana, South Africa and Britain to settle some Jewish refugees in some European areas of Botswana. The idea was to settle a small number of Jewish families with capital and agricultural skills in order to improve the beleaguered economy of the territory. This attempt was done amidst growing anti-semitism and Nazi influence in the right-wing Afrikaner community in South Africa. Anti-semitism in Britain and South Africa was said to be informing government policy towards Jewish refugees. It is believed that this scenario hampered attempts by trie British government and the Anglo- Jewish community to assist refugees fleeing Nazi Germany. The outbreak of World War Two in 1939 seems to have abruptly ended the bid to settle the refugees in Botswana.
2006-01-01T00:00:00Z