The collection Mapungubwe Collection

interior of mapungubwe gold gallery



close-up of golden rhinoceros of mapungubwe

the discovery of gold artefacts on mapungubwe hill in 1932 served catalyst detailed academic research in 1933 after university of pretoria had secured research rights government. large-scale excavations undertaken between 1933 , 1940, until research disrupted outbreak of world war ii. intermittent excavations followed in 1950s, continued more thorough stratigraphic excavations throughout 1960s late 1990s. on decades, these excavations , scientific findings largely held within academia , reached public knowledge. collection assembled on 80 years of excavations university of pretoria, although minor collections of mapungubwe material housed @ several other institutions throughout south africa. in 2003, declaration of mapungubwe unesco world heritage site, suspension placed on excavations @ mapungubwe, decision still in place of 2016.

only small percentage of mapungubwe finds, curated museum , department of anthropology , archaeology, on display public.

part of collection loaned mapungubwe interpretation center in mapungubwe.

the collection s famous artifacts known golden rhinoceros of mapungubwe, on loan british museum.