ABSTRACT

In southern Zambezia, the early second millennium AD witnessed socio-political transformations within local agropastoralist societies. Research continues to unearth evidence of multiple places that likely functioned as the centres of state-based polities. This paper reports on surveys and excavations undertaken at Mtanye, located about 50 km east of Gwanda in southwestern Zimbabwe and approximately 90 km north of the Shashi-Limpopo Confluence Area where Botswana, South Africa and Zimbabwe meet. Fieldwork identified local expressions of prestige such as stone walling, exotic items such as glass beads and evidence of long-term occupation with a successive layering and mix of K2, TK2 and Mapungubwe facies. Based on this evidence, it is therefore suggested that the similarities in material culture between Mapungubwe, Mtanye and other neighbouring sites like Mapela and Mananzve reflect social networks of shared ideas and practices rather than the existence of a single hegemonic state. Furthermore, the community at Mtanye deployed different strategies to survive and thrive in seemingly inhospitable drylands.

摘要

在赞比西亚南部，公元二千年初期见证了当地农牧社会的社会政治变革。研究继续发掘多个地方的证据，这些地方可能是国家政体的中心。本文报道了在 Mtanye 进行的调查和挖掘工作，Mtanye 位于津巴布韦西南部的 Gwanda 以东约 50 公里处，位于博茨瓦纳、南非和津巴布韦交汇处的 Shashi-Limpopo 汇合区以北约 90 公里处。实地工作确定了当地的声望表现，如石墙、玻璃珠等外来物品以及长期居住的证据，连续分层和混合 K2、TK2 和 Mapungubwe 相。基于这一证据，因此建议 Mapungubwe 在物质文化上的相似之处，Mtanye 和 Mapela 和 Mananzve 等其他邻近站点反映了共享思想和实践的社交网络，而不是单一霸权国家的存在。此外，Mtanye 社区部署了不同的策略来在看似荒凉的旱地生存和发展。