Description
Mapungubwe: South Africa’s Crown Jewels by Sian Tiley is a richly illustrated exploration of one of southern Africa’s most important archaeological sites and the remarkable artefacts it yielded. Flourishing over a thousand years ago, Mapungubwe was a sophisticated early state that formed part of vast trade networks linking Africa to the Indian Ocean world and the East.
This volume celebrates the extraordinary collection of gold objects, beads, pottery, and ornaments housed in the Mapungubwe Museum at the University of Pretoria, where decades of meticulous research and conservation have preserved this national treasure. As curator of the collection, Sian Tiley provides authoritative insight into the site’s discovery, excavation, and ongoing scholarly study.
The book also addresses enduring questions surrounding Mapungubwe’s wealth and influence — including debates about the origins of its gold, the presence of Chinese porcelain among the ruins, and legends connecting the region to the biblical Ophir. Placing the site within its broader historical and cultural context, the book highlights Mapungubwe’s significance as both a National Heritage Site and part of the UNESCO-listed Cultural Landscape of Mapungubwe, now incorporated into the Mapungubwe National Park.
A fitting tribute to one of South Africa’s most extraordinary archaeological legacies.
