Abstract
This paper is based on the dataset that I collected during my doctoral research in Eastern Zimbabwe between 2015 and 2018. The dataset represents an investigation of pre-colonial and contemporary gold mining practices in this area and covers the period from AD 1300–2018 from an anthropological and archaeological perspective. The fieldwork conducted consists of archaeological excavations and surface collections that I carried out at three selected sites. Recovered material culture was then analysed using ethnographic analogies based on interviewing contemporary gold miners who were working near these sites. The dataset will be potentially useful to southern African archaeologists by offering them new direction on pre-colonial gold mining practices in a region where these have only been partially studied as appendages of iron production processes. The use of archaeological ethnography in this research also adds a multi- dimensional perspective in the interpretation of archaeological objects associated with pre-colonial gold mining practices in Eastern Zimbabwe. Funding statement: Financial support for this research project was received from the Wenner Gren Foundation for Anthropological Research through the Wadsworth Foundation African Doctoral Fellowship Programme (2015–2018).
Highlights
(1) Overview Context The research presented in this dataset is based on an ethnographic and archaeological investigation of Mutanda, Nyahokwe and Saungweme archaeological sites in Eastern Zimbabwe
This holistic anthropological archaeology approach embraced local communities in capturing different voices of the past by identifying contemporary gold mining methods that were used to explain the archaeology of the three sites
It is important to stress that archaeological methods used were concerned about the past but were applied to a kind of contemporary archaeology of material culture in the present through the application of a hybrid methodology called archaeological ethnography [9,10,11,12]
Summary
(1) Overview Context The research presented in this dataset is based on an ethnographic and archaeological investigation of Mutanda, Nyahokwe and Saungweme archaeological sites in Eastern Zimbabwe (see map on Figure 1). Material culture generated by contemporary miners was used in building up ethnographic analogies for the interpretation of archaeological remains of recovered at the three sites.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
