Molokwane, a Seventeenth Century Tswana Village

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Periodical article

Title:	Molokwane, a Seventeenth Century Tswana Village
Author:	Pistorius, Julius C.C.
Year:	1994
Periodical:	South African Journal of Ethnology
Volume:	17
Issue:	2
Period:	June
Pages:	38-53
Language:	English
Geographic term:	South Africa
Subjects:	Tswana archaeology villages Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups) Anthropology and Archaeology
Abstract:	Molokwane and Boitsêmagano are two mega-sized stone-walled archaeological sites near Rustenburg (South Africa) which were occupied from AD c. 1600 by the Kwena Bamodimosana. In this article, historical, ethnographic and archaeological evidence is combined to explain the settlement features of Molokwane. The settlement once served as a Tswana village ('motse') comprising numerous wards ('dikgoro') occupied by related patrilineages ('masika'). The sites consist of central enclosures which served as shelters for domestic stock and herdboys ('badisa'), burial locations and judicial centres ('makgotla'). The outer surroundings of 'dikgoro' were utilized as housing areas, social gathering places and areas for the storage and preparation of agricultural produce. Bibliogr., sum. in Afrikaans and English.