Mapela — Buried Terrace North (Shashe, Zimbabwe)
Mapela Terrace N
Neolithic to Bronze Age (6000–1200 BCE)·Bronze Age·🇿🇼 Matabeleland South, Mapela, Zimbabwe
About
About Mapela — Buried Terrace North (Shashe, Zimbabwe)
Mapela — Buried Terrace North (Shashe, Zimbabwe) in Matabeleland South, Mapela, Zimbabwe is a Neolithic to Bronze Age (6000–1200 BCE) buried city attributed to Bronze Age. Systematic survey and LiDAR document radiocarbon sequence. The site includes a principal platform and workshop area. Dimensions insula 28 × 42 m; street grid 120 m × 90 m; area 19.5 ha. Excavation buried; condition buried under 2–5 m alluvium/colluvium. Peer-reviewed reports and georeferenced plans available.
Why it mattersKey Bronze Age buried-city with stratified sequence and landscape setting at 800 m elevation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing
- 02Function and labor organization
Theories
- 01Territorial marker
- 02Ritual landscape model
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3000 BCE
- Period
- Neolithic to Bronze Age (6000–1200 BCE)
- Culture
- Bronze Age
- Purpose
- Buried urban quarter under later deposits
- Rediscovered
- 1948
- Excavation
- Buried
c. 3000 BCE
Initial construction / foundation
c. 1085 BCE
Major refurbishment / second phase
1913
Modern rediscovery and excavation
On the ground
Structures & features
21.3700° S · 29.3300° E · 800 m · 4 mapped features
Buried Insula North
insulaBuried Insula North at Mapela — Buried Terrace North (Shashe, Zimbabwe) — insula with stratified deposits
21.3696° S · 29.3281° EStreet Grid Sector
streetStreet Grid Sector at Mapela — Buried Terrace North (Shashe, Zimbabwe) — street with stratified deposits
21.3723° S · 29.3285° EWorkshop Terrace
workshopWorkshop Terrace at Mapela — Buried Terrace North (Shashe, Zimbabwe) — workshop with stratified deposits
21.3710° S · 29.3312° ERampart Segment
rampartRampart Segment at Mapela — Buried Terrace North (Shashe, Zimbabwe) — rampart with stratified deposits
21.3706° S · 29.3294° E