Stone-walled Settlements

In Episode 1 of this series (click here to read), mention was made of the agro-pastoralists (farmers who grew crops and kept livestock) who moved into the Magaliesberg region in about 225 AD. Scholars have categorised them as people of the "early iron age", as they possessed and made use of the technology needed for smelting and forging iron in order to make tools and weapons. They did not, however, build the more sophisticated settlements which were characteristic of the middle and late iron ages.

It is something of a mystery as to what became of these early iron age people. The dating techniques used by archaeologists indicate that they were present in the Broederstroom area up until about 450 AD. There is then a large gap in the archaeological record, and the next evidence of iron age peoples in the Magaliesberg region is dated at about 1100 AD. The most likely explanation (e.g. by Prof Tom Huffman) seems to be that the early iron age people moved away from the Magaliesberg, and that the middle iron age settlements are evidence of a second wave of immigrants who moved southwards from areas further north in Africa. Some scholars, however, including Prof Revil Mason, have maintained that the middle iron age people were direct descendants of those of the early iron age, and that we have not yet found the evidence of their continuous occupation of the Magaliesberg region from 450 AD to 1100 AD.

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This fascinating article appeared in The Star in the lead up to Johannesburg's Centenary Commemorations. It highlights the layers of significance attached to Northcliff Hill previously known as Aasvogel Kop. It is interesting to note the tussle between the forces of preservation and development on the ridge as well as the limited resources of the heritage authorities of the time.

In 1986 Johannesburg will be 100 years old. That's young by Europe's standards of course. But looked at from another direction we've had people living in this area for hundreds of thousands of years.

Traces of these occupants - Stone Age Man - are still visible in parts of modern Johannesburg. Their tools have been unearthed right next to Johannesburg's Supreme Court building. And on top of Northcliff hill there are the remains of their settlements. The first known inhabitants of Johannesburg settled on the eastern side of the hill between 500 000 and 250 000 years ago. They were hunters and gatherers of edible plants who made use of stone tools. Three sites remain to tell of these early inhabitants.

Later, between 100 000 and 50 000 years ago, other people settled in the area. They too used stone tools and there are the remains of their settlement in two sites on top of the hill.

Then, about 300 years ago, kraals were built, and stone walls enclosed areas - Iron Age farmers had moved into the area.

Northcliff hill shows the past of all three periods but the question...