Pre-colonial herding strategies in the Shashe-Limpopo basin, southern Africa, based on strontium isotope analysis of domestic fauna

Journal of African Archaeology

Volumn 8, Issue 1, 2010, Pages 83-98

  Smith, Jeannette ^a   Lee Thorp, Julia ^b,c   Prevec, Steve ^d   Hall, Simon ^e,f   Späth, Andreas ^e,f  

^a UNIVERSITY OF THE WITWATERSRAND   (South Africa)

^b UNIVERSITY OF BRADFORD   (United Kingdom)

^c UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD   (United Kingdom)

^d RHODES UNIVERSITY   (South Africa)

^e Department of Archaeology ^*  (United States)

^f UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN   (South Africa)

Author keywords

87Sr 86Sr analysis; Agropastoral ecologies; Complex societies; ICP MS; Resilient herding strategies; Southern Africa; TIMS

Indexed keywords

EID: 77953278915     PISSN: 16121651     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.3213/1612-1651-10154     Document Type: Review

References (100)

1. Acocks, J.P.H. 1988. Veld Types of South Africa. Botanical Research Institute, Pretoria
2. Archer, S. 2002. Technology and ecology in the Karoo: a century of changing farming practice windmills, wire and changing farming practice. In: Dover, S., Edgecombe, R. & Guest, B. (eds.), South Africa's Environmental History: Cases and Comparisons. David Philip, Cape Town, pp. 112-138
3. Balasse, M. 2002. Reconstructing dietary and environmental history from analysis: Time resolution of intra-tooth sequential sampling enamel isotopic analysis: time resolution of intra-tooth sequential sampling. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology 12 (3), 155-165
4. Balasse, M., Ambrose, S.H., Smith, A.B. & Price, T.D. 2002. The Cape of South Africa assessed by isotopic analysis of sheep tooth enamel seasonal mobility model for prehistoric herders in the south-western Cape of South Africa assessed by isotopic analysis of sheep tooth enamel. Journal of Archaeological Science 29 (9), 917-932
5. Barton, J.M. Jr., Fripp, R.E.P. & Horrocks, P.C. 1983a. Rb-Sr ages dykes, Central Zone, Limpopo Mobile Belt, southern Africa Africa Special Publication No. 8 and chemical composition of some deformed Archaean mafic dykes, Central Zone, Limpopo Mobile Belt, southern Africa. In: van Biljon, W.J. & Legg, J.H.(eds.), The Limpopo Belt. Geological Society of South Africa Special Publication No. 8, pp. 27-37
6. Barton, J.M. Jr. & Key, R.M. 1983. Rb-Sr ages and geological setting zone of the Limpopo Belt, near Zanzibar, eastern Botswana Africa Special Publication No. 8 of certain rock units from the central zone of the Limpopo Belt, near Zanzibar, eastern Botswana. In: van Biljon, W.J. & Legg, J.H.(eds.), The Limpopo Belt. Geological Society of South Africa Special Publication No. 8, pp. 19-25
7. Barton, J.M. Jr., Ryan, B. & Fripp, R.E.P. 1983b. Rb-Sr and U-Th-Pb Zone, Limpopo Belt Africa Special Publication No. 8 isotopic studies of the Sand River gneisses, Central Zone, Limpopo Belt. In: van Biljon, W.J. & Legg, J.H. (eds.), The Limpopo Belt. Geological Society of South Africa Special Publication No. 8, pp. 9-18
8. Beinart, W. 1996. Soil erosion, animals and pasture over the long term destruction in South Africa Environment James Currey, Oxford environmental destruction in South Africa. In: Leach, M. & Mearns, R. (eds.), The Lie of the Land: Challenging Perceived Wisdom on the African Environment. The International African Institute, James Currey, Oxford, pp. 54-72
9. Beinart, W. 1997. Vets, viruses and environmentalism at the Cape. In Seattle Griffiths, T. & Robin, L. (eds.), Ecology and Empire: Environmental History of Settler Societies. University of Washington Press, Seattle, pp. 87-101
10. Bullen, T.D. & Kendall, C. 1998. Tracing of weathering reactions and approach water flowpaths: a multi-isotope approach. In: Kendall, C. & McDonnell, J.J. (eds.), Isotope Tracers in Catchment Hydrology. Elsevier, Amsterdam, pp. 611-646
11. Calabrese, J.A. 2000. Interregional interaction in southern Africa: Zhizo relations in northern South Africa, southwestern Zimbabwe, and eastern Botswana, AD 1000 to 1200 and Leopard's Kopje relations in northern South Africa, southwestern Zimbabwe, and eastern Botswana, AD 1000 to 1200. African Archaeological Review 17 (4), 183-211
12. Calabrese, J. 2005. Ethnicity, Class, and Polity: The Emergence of Social Complexity in the Shashi-Limpopo Valley of Southern Africa, AD 900 to 1300 and Political Complexity in the Shashi-Limpopo Valley of Southern Africa, AD 900 to 1300. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
13. Cashdan, E. 1986. Competition between foragers and food-producers on the Botswana Botletli River, Botswana. Africa 56 (3), 299-318
14. Cleaver, K.M. & Schreiber, G.A. 1994. Reversing the Spiral. The in Sub-Saharan Africa Population, Agriculture and Environment Nexus in Sub-Saharan Africa. World Bank, Washington
15. Clouet, M., Barram, C. & Goar, J.-L. 1999. The Golden Eagle (Aquila Ethiopia chryseatos) in the Balé Mountains, Ethiopia. Journal of Raptor Research 33 (2), 102-104
16. Connor, R.J. 1994. African animal trypanosomiases. In: Thomson, G.R. Africa Oxford University Press, New York Coertzer, J.A.W., Tustun, R.C. & Kriek, N.P.J. (eds.), Infectious Diseases of Livestock with Special Reference to Southern Africa. Vol. 1. Oxford University Press, New York, pp. 167-205
17. Dahlberg, A.C. 1996. Interpretations of Environmental Change and North East District, Botswana Diversity. A Study from the North East District, Botswana. Ph.D. Dissertation, Stockholm University, Stockholm
18. Davies, R.A.G. & Allan, D.G. 1997. Black Eagle Aquila verreauxii. In Park, V. & Brown, C.J. (eds.), Birdlife-South Africa, Johannesburg Harrison, J.A., Allan, D.G., Underhill, L.L., Herremans, M., Tree, A.J., Park, V. & Brown, C.J. (eds.), Atlas of Southern African Birds. Vol. 1: Non-Passerines. Birdlife-South Africa, Johannesburg, pp. 175-177
19. Denbow, J., Smith, J., Ndobochani, N., Atwood, K. & Miller, D. 2008 paleo-ecology and economy Archaeological excavations at Bosutswe, Botswana: cultural chronology, paleo-ecology and economy. Journal of Archaeological Science 35 (2), 459-480
20. Doggett, H. 1976. Sorghum. In: Simmonds, N.W. (ed.), Evolution of Crop Plants. Longmans, London, pp. 112-117
21. Ellis, J. 1995. Climatic variability and complex ecosystem dynamics pastoral development implications for pastoral development. In: Scoones, I. (ed.), Living with Uncertainty: New Directions in Pastoral Development in Africa. Intermediate Technology Publication Ltd., London, pp. 37-46
22. Ellis, J. & Swift, D. 1988. Stability of African pastoral ecosystems implications for development alternative paradigms and implications for development. Journal of Range Management 41, 450-459
23. Ezzo, J.A., Johnson, C.M. & Price, T.D. 1997. Analytical perspectives east-central Arizona on prehistoric migration: a case study from east-central Arizona. Journal of Archaeological Science 24 (5), 447-466
24. Faure, G. 1986. Principles of Isotope Geology. John Wiley, New York
25. Faure, G. & Powell, T. 1972. Strontium Isotope Geology Springer-Verlag, New York
26. Ford, J. 1971. The Role of the Trypanosomiases in African Ecology: A Fly Problem Study of the Tsetse Fly Problem. Clarendon Press, Oxford
27. Garlake, P.S. 1978. Pastoralism and Zimbabwe. Journal of African History 19 (4), 479-494
28. Gifford-Gonzalez, D. 2000. Animal disease challenges to the emergence of Africa pastoralism in sub-Saharan Africa. African Archaeological Review 17 (3), 95-139
29. Grupe, G., Price, T.D., Schroter, P., Sollner, F., Johnson, C.M. & of tooth and bone: A study of southern Bavarian skeletal remains Beard, B.L. 1997. Mobility of the Bell Beaker people revealed by strontium isotope ratios of tooth and bone: a study of southern Bavarian skeletal remains. Applied Geochemistry 12 (4), 517-525
30. Hanisch, E.O.M. 1980. An Archaeological Interpretation of Certain Iron Limpopo/Shashi Valley Age Sites in the Limpopo/Shashi Valley. Unpublished M.A. Dissertation, University of Pretoria, Pretoria
31. Hanisch, E.O.M. 1981. Schroda: a Zhizo site in the northern Transvaal In: Voigt, E.A. (ed.), A Guide to Archaeological Sites in the Northern and Eastern Transvaal. Transvaal Museum, Pretoria, pp. 37-54
32. Hillson, S. 1986. Teeth. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
33. Hoffman, T. & Ashwell, A. 2001. Nature Divided: Land Degradation in South Africa. University of Cape Town Press, Cape Town
34. Holmgren, K., Lee-Thorp, J.A., Cooper, G.R.J., Lundblad, K., Partridge L.Sithaldeen R.Talma A.S.Tyson P.D. in southern Africa T.C., Scott, L., Sithaldeen, R., Talma, A.S. & Tyson, P.D. 2003. Persistent millennial-scale variability over the past 25 thousand years in southern Africa. Quaternary Science Reviews 22 (21-22), 2311-2326
35. Huffman, T.N. 1986. Iron Age settlement patterns and the origins of class southern Africa distinction in southern Africa. In: Wendorf, F. & Close, A.E. (eds.), Advances in World Archaeology. Academic Press, New York, pp. 291-338
36. Huffman, T.N. 1996a. Snakes and Crocodiles: Power and Symbolism in Ancient Zimbabwe. Witwatersrand University Press, Johannesburg
37. Huffman, T.N. 1996b. Archaeological evidence for climatic change during Southern Africa the last 2000 years in Southern Africa. Quaternary International 33, 55-60
38. Huffman, T.N. 2000. Mapungubwe and the origins of the Zimbabwe culture South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8, 14-29
39. Huffman, T.N. 2009. A cultural proxy for drought: ritual burning in the Africa Iron Age of Southern Africa. Journal of Archaeological Science 36 (4), 991-1005
40. Katjiua, M.L.J. & Ward, D. 2006. Cattle diet selection during the Namibia hot-dry season in a semi-arid region of Namibia. African Journal of Range and Forage Science 23 (1), 59-67
41. Knudson, K.J., Price, T.D., Buikstra, J.E. & Blom, D.E. 2004. The use and mortuary ritual in Bolivia and Peru of strontium isotope analysis to investigate Tiwanaku migration and mortuary ritual in Bolivia and Peru. Archaeometry 46 (1), 5-18
42. Kopytoff, I. 1989. The internal African frontier: the making of African political culture. In: Kopytoff, I. (ed.), The African Frontier: The Reproduction of Traditional African Societies. Indiana University Press, Bloomington, pp. 2-83
43. Kramers, J.D., McCourt, S. & van Reenen, D.D. 2006. The Limpopo Belt Society of South Africa / Council for Geoscience, Johannesburg / Pretoria In: Johnson, M.R., Anhaeusser, C.R. & Thomas, R.J. (eds.), Geology of South Africa. Geological Society of South Africa / Council for Geoscience, Johannesburg / Pretoria, pp. 209-236
44. Krige, E.J. & Krige, J.D. 1943. The Realm of a Rain-Queen. Juta and Company Ltd., Cape Town
45. Kuper, A. 1980. Symbolic dimension of the southern Bantu homestead Africa 50, 8-23
46. Kuper, A. 1982. Wives for Cattle: Bridewealth and Marriage in Southern Africa. Routledge and Kegan Paul, London
47. Lee-Thorp, J.A. 2004. Longterm, High Resolution Records of Climate Speleothems in Cold Air Cave, Makapans Valley, Limpopo Province Variability from Cave Speleothems in Cold Air Cave, Makapans Valley, Limpopo Province. South Africa Water Research Commission Report 1013/1/04
48. Lee-Thorp, J.A., Holmgren, K., Lauritzen, S.-E., Linge, H., Moberg, A. T.C. Stevenson C. Tyson P.D. to late Holocene Partridge, T.C., Stevenson, C. & Tyson, P.D. 2001. Rapid climate shifts in the southern African interior throughout the mid to late Holocene. Geophysical Research Letters 28 (23), 4507-4510
49. Lee-Thorp, J.A., Sealy, J.C. & Morris, A. 1993. Isotopic evidence for diets of prehistoric farmers in South Africa. In: Lambert, J.B. & Grupe, G. (eds.), Prehistoric Human Bone: Archaeology at the Molecular Level. Springer-Verlag, Berlin, pp. 99-120
50. Leppan, H.D. & Bosman, G.J. 1923. Field Crops in South Africa Central News Agency Ltd., Johannesburg
51. Mansvelt, P.R. & Skinner, J.D. 1962. The Cattle of the Bavenda Department of Agricultural Technical Services Vol. 6. Pretoria
52. McIntosh, R.J. 2000. Social memory in Mande. In: McIntosh, R.J., Tainter University Press, New York J.A. & McIntosh, S.K. (eds.), The Way the Wind Blows. Columbia University Press, New York, pp. 141-180
53. Meyer, A. 1997. Settlement sequence in the central Limpopo Valley: the Greefswald Cultural History Museum Iron Age sites of Greefswald. In: van Schalkwyk, J.A. (ed.), Studies in Honour of Professor J. F. Eloff: Research by the National Cultural History Museum. National Cultural History Museum, Pretoria, pp. 9-42
54. Meyer, A. 1998. The Archaeological Sites of Greefswald. University of Pretoria, Pretoria
55. Meyer, A. 2000. K2 and Mapungubwe. Southern African Archaeological Bulletin Goodwin Series 8, 4-13
56. Miller, D., Desai, N. & Lee-Thorp, J. 2000. Indigenous gold mining in southern Africa: a review. South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8, 91-99
57. Mortimore, M. 1998. Roots in the African Dust. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
58. National Research Council 1996. Lost Crops of Africa. National Academy Press, Washington
59. 13C composition and wood anatomy of Breonadia salicina trees from South Africa between AD 1375 and 1995. South African Journal of Science 101 (3-4), 162-168
60. Plug, I. 2000. Overview of Iron Age fauna from the Limpopo Valley. South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8, 117-126
61. Plug, I. & Voigt, E.A. 1985. Archaeozoological studies of Iron Age communities in southern Africa. In: Wendorf, F. & Close, A.E. (eds.), Advances in World Archaeology. Academic Press, New York, pp. 189-238
62. Price, T.D., Bently, R.A., Lüning, J., Gronenborn, D. & Wahl, J 2001. Prehistoric human migration in the Linearbandkeramik of central Europe. Antiquity 75 (289), 593-603
63. Price, T.D., Middleton, W.D. & Manzanilla, L. 2000. Immigration and strontium isotope ratios in human bone and teeth the ancient city of Teotihuacan in Mexico: a study using strontium isotope ratios in human bone and teeth. Journal of Archaeological Science 27 (10), 903-913
64. Purseglove, J.W. 1976. Millets. In: Simmonds, N.W. (ed.), Evolution of Crop Plants. Longmans, London, pp. 91-93
65. Reid, A. & Segobye, A. 2000. Politics, society and trade on the eastern margins o the Kalahari. South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8, 58-68
66. Saitowitz, S.J., Reid, D.L. & van der Merwe, N.J. 1996. Glass bead trade from Islamic Egypt to South Africa c. 900-1250. South African Journal of Science 92, 101-104
67. Sakae, T. & Hirai, G. 1982. Calcification and crystallization of bovine enamel. Journal of Dental Research 61 (1), 57-59
68. Savory, A. 1999. Holistic Management. A New Framework for Decision Making. Island Press, Washington
69. Schapera, I. 1953. The Tswana. International African Institute, London
70. Schapera, I. & Goodwin, A.J.H. 1950. Work and wealth. In: Schapera I. (ed.), The Bantu-Speaking Tribes of South Africa. Maskew Miller Ltd., Cape Town, pp. 131-171
71. Schoeman, M.H. 2006. Imagining rain-places: rain-control and changing Shashe-Limpopo confluence area, South Africa ritual landscapes in the Shashe-Limpopo confluence area, South Africa. South African Archaeological Bulletin 61, 152-165
72. Scoones, I. 1995. New directions in pastoral development in Africa. In Scoones, I. (ed.), Living with Uncertainty: New Directions in Pastoral Development in Africa. Intermediate Technology Publication Ltd., London, pp. 1-36
73. Scoones, I., Chibudu, C., Chikura, S., Jeranyama, P., Machaka, D. Mavedzenge B. Mombeshora B. Mudhara M. Mudziwo C. Murimbarimba F. Zirereza B. from Zimbabwe Environmental Development, London Machanja, W., Mavedzenge, B., Mombeshora, B., Mudhara, M., Mudziwo, C., Murimbarimba, F. & Zirereza, B. 1996. Hazards and Opportunities: Farming Livelihoods in Dryland Africa, Lessons From Zimbabwe. Zed Book Ltd., in association with International Institute for Environmental Development, London
74. Scott, L., Holgrem, K., Talma, S., Woodbourne, S. & Vogel, J.C. 2003 change in the savanna biome, Limpopo Province, South Africa Age interpretation of the Wonderkrater spring sediments and vegetation change in the savanna biome, Limpopo Province, South Africa. South African Journal of Science 99 (8-9), 484-487
75. 86Sr as a dietary indicator in modern and archaeological bone. Journal of Archaeological Science 18 (3), 399-416
76. 86Sr ratios in modern and fossil food-webs of the Sterkfontein Valley: implications for early hominid habitat preference. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 62 (14), 2463-2473
77. Smith, J.M. 2005. Climate Change and Agropastoral Sustainability in the River Basin from AD 900 Shashe-Limpopo River Basin from AD 900. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
78. Smith, J. & Hall, S. 1999. Research directions on the archaeology of the Shashe-Limpopo area. Wits Earth Science Newsletter 30, 10-11
79. Smith, J., Lee-Thorp, J. & Hall, S. 2007. Climate change and Basin, Southern Africa: AD 880 to 1700 agropastoralist settlement in the Shashe-Limpopo River Basin, Southern Africa: AD 880 to 1700. South African Archaeological Bulletin 62 (186), 115-125
80. Steyn, M. 1998. A review of human skeletal remains from the Greefswald sites. In: Meyer, A., The Archaeological Sites of Greefswald (Appendix). University of Pretoria, Pretoria, pp. 287-291
81. Steyn, M. & Henneberg, M. 1995. The health status of the people from Mapungubwe (South Africa) the Iron Age sites at K2 and Mapungubwe (South Africa). Rivista di Anthropologia 73, 133-143
82. Steyn, M. & Henneberg, M. 1996. Skeletal growth of children from the Iron Age site K2 (South Africa). Journal of Physical Anthropology 100 (3), 389-396
83. Stuart-Williams, H.Q. & Schwarcz, H.P. 1997. Oxygen isotope beaver one, tooth enamel, and dentine determination of climatic, variation using phosphate from beaver one, tooth enamel, and dentine. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 61 (12), 2539-2550
84. Suga, S. 1982. Progressive mineralization pattern of developing enamel maturation stage during the maturation stage. Journal of Dental Research 61 (Dec. Spec. No.), 1532-1542
85. Summers, R. 1967. Archaeological distribution and a tentative history of in Rhodesia and the northern Transvaal tsetse infestation in Rhodesia and the northern Transvaal. Arnoldia 3, 1-18
86. Tyson, P.D., Lee-Thorp, J.A., Holmgren, K. & Thackeray, J.F. 2002 millennium: Implications for population movements Changing gradients of climate change in southern Africa during the past millennium: implications for population movements. Climate Change 52, 129-135
87. Tyson, P.D. & Lindesay, J.A. 1992. The climate of the last 2000 years in southern Africa. The Holocene 2 (3), 271-278
88. van Biljon, W.J. & Legg, J.H.(eds.) 1983. The Limpopo Belt Geological Society of South Africa Special Publication No. 8
89. van der Merwe, N.J., Lee-Thorp, J.A., Thackeray, J.F., Hall-Martin, A. F.J.Coetzee H. Bell R.V.H. Lindeque M. Kruger, F.J., Coetzee, H., Bell, R.V.H. & Lindeque, M. 1990. Source-area determination of elephant ivory by isotopic analysis. Nature 346 (6286),744-746
90. van Oudtshoorn, F. 1992. Guide to Grasses of South Africa. Briza Publikasies, Arcadia
91. Vogel, J.C. 2000. Radiocarbon dating of the Iron Age sequence in the Limpopo. South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8, 51-57
92. Vogel, J.C. & Calabrese, J.A. 2000. Dating of the Leokwe Hill site chronology and implications for the regional chronology. South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8, 47-50
93. Vogel, J.C., Eglington, B. & Auret, J.M. 1990. Isotope fingerprints in elephant bone and ivory. Nature 346 (6286), 747-749
94. Voigt, E.A. 1983. Mapungubwe: An Archaeozoological Interpretation of an Iron Age Community. Transvaal Museum, Pretoria
95. Watkeys, M.K. 1984. The Precambrian Geology of the Limpopo Belt North and West of Messina. Unpublished Ph.D. Thesis, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
96. Weaver, B.L. & Tarney, J. 1981. Chemical changes during dyke metamorphism in high-grade basement terrains. Nature 289 (5793), 47-49
97. Weinrich, A.K.H. 1975. African Farmers in Rhodesia. Old and New Peasant Karangaland Communities in Karangaland. Oxford University Press, Cape Town
98. 18O) in herbivores from Ain Ghazal (Jordan, Neolithic). Journal of Archaeological Science 26 (6), 697-704
99. Wood, M. 2000. Making connections: relationship between international beads from the Shashe-Limpopo area trade and glass beads from the Shashe-Limpopo area. South African Archaeological Society Goodwin Series 8, 79-90
100. Woodhead, J., Swearer, S., Hergt, J. & Maas, R. 2005. In situ corrections, high spatial resolution and an example from otolith studies Sr-isotope analysis of carbonates by LA-MC-ICPMS: interference corrections, high spatial resolution and an example from otolith studies. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry 20 (1), 22-7