Chemical analyses of glass beads from two Early Iron Age sites in Zimbabwe

Zhizo Hill and Makuru

Datos Bibliográficos

ID6042270
AutoresEdwin Wilmsen (University of the Witwatersrand), Edwin Ν Wilmsen (University of the Witwatersrand, autor de correspondencia), L Dussubieux (0000-0002-9334-8131, Elemental Analysis Facility, Field Museum, 1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60605, United States of America), T N Huffman (0000-0003-0974-464X, University of the Witwatersrand), Thomas Huffman (University of the Witwatersrand), Marilee Wood (0000-0002-5845-0149, University of the Witwatersrand)
Año2018
Volumen53
Número3
Páginas369-382
Fecha de publicación2018-07-03
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAzania Archaeological Research in Africa (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0067-270X • E-ISSN: 1945-5534
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0067270x.2018.1471799
OpenAlexW2809242082
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas12

Glass beads from the East African coast obtained through the Indian Ocean trade have been known for a half-century to have been taken into the interior of southern Africa. Zhizo Hill and Makuru, both situated in central Zimbabwe, were among the first Early Iron Age sites where such beads were recovered. Zhizo Hill subsequently became the name site for these beads and associated pottery, now called Zhizo. Makuru was among the very few mid-twentieth century sites with adequate charcoal from which the first radiocarbon dates associated with Zhizo beads and ceramics were obtained. Yet the beads from neither site have been analysed before this nor described in any adequate way. This paper presents the results of their analyses by Laser Ablation-Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry along with reassessments of those first radiocarbon dates. It then considers the implications of these data and the complexities of interpretation regarding the beads in southern Africa still to be addressed

Accelerator mass spectrometry · Ancient history · Archaeology · Bead · Charcoal · Geography · Metallurgy · Pottery · Radiocarbon dating · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Archaeology and Rock Art Studies · Geology · History · Materials Science · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology