Mapela: archaeologists re-visit a forgotten urban site in Zimbabwe
Near the border with Botswana in the Shashi-Limpopo region lies Mapela, which is now an excavation site. The ruins of what is believed to have been a flourishing urban community for a long period of time were first examined in the early 1960s. As a result of political developments in the country, which was known as Rhodesia at the time, the site was abandoned and forgotten by the archaeologists.
Until June 2013, that is. Then, new excavations started under the leadership of Dr Chirikure from the University of Cape Town. Chirikure and his team discovered a large area with massive stone walls, huge piles of fossilised animal excrement, pottery, spinning wheels and thousands of glass beads that testify to thriving trade with other countries, probably India and China. Carbon dating indicates that Mapela was as a flourishing community that existed continuously from the early 8th century until well into the 18th. Read more.
