UNESCO Ancient Civilizations of Africa (Editor G. Mokhtar)

Ancient Civilizations of Africa
where they were probably derived from a westerly source. 60
Even in the southern Zambian region, cattle in early iron age times
appear to have been relatively uncommon, in contrast to the importance
which they assumed in the economy of later periods. During the second
half of the first millennium, a gradual change of emphasis in the local
iron age economy may be discerned. At Kalundu, the period saw a steady
increase in the proportion of domestic animal bones of those of wild species
in successive horizons, indicating a gradual shift from hunting to animal
husbandry. 61 In the Victoria Falls region iron hoes become markedly less
frequent at much the same time, and it seems reasonable to assume a
corresponding change of emphasis away from agriculture in favour of
increased herding of domestic animals. 62
Mining and metallurgy
Only three metals were worked on any substantial scale during the
southern African iron age: these, in decreasing order of importance, were
iron, copper and gold. 63
Iron ore in one form or another is extremely widespread throughout the
region; where richer ores were not available, ferricrete or bog iron appear
to have been smelted, despite their low yield. Iron-working seems to have
been introduced throughout the region contemporaneously with the arrival
of the other diagnostic traits which constitute iron age culture as here
defined. There is no evidence that iron was generally mined other than by
the excavation of shallow pits; often the ore was simply collected from
the surface. Details of the iron-smelting furnaces of the southern
African early iron age are not known, 64 but it is interesting to note that
smelting appears frequently to have been conducted within the confines of
the villages, as if the taboos, which in later periods ensured that smelting
operations were carried out away from all contact with women, did not at
that time apply. Tewels appear to have been used in the smelting
process; this does not prove the use of bellows since tewels are also used
in natural-draught furnaces. 6 ' The objects made of iron were generally of
domestic utilitarian purpose; knives, arrow and spearheads and the like.
There was probably little long-distance trade in iron or iron objects.
60. R. G. Welbourne, p. 325. The presence of cattle in late stone age South Africa may
date from the first millennium of our era, possibly predating their arrival in Zimbabwe.
Their introduction to South Africa by a westerly route therefore seems probable. This is
in keeping with linguistic evidence quoted by C. Ehret, 1967, pp. 1-17; C. Ehret et al.,
1972, pp. 9-27.
61. B. M. Fagan, 1967.
62. This was probably a gradual process extending over several centuries.
63. Tin was also worked on a small scale, at least in the nineteenth century in southern
Zambia.
64. It is not clear whether a furnace at Inyanga discovered by Bernhard should be
attributed to the early iron age.
65. For example, D. W . Phillipson, 1968c, pp. 102-13.
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