Nomadiq
Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape
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Cultural

Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape

South Africa ·

Description

Mapungubwe was southern Africa's most powerful kingdom a thousand years ago. Atop a sandstone hill, kings lived separated from commoners, trading gold and ivory with Arabia. The golden rhino found in a royal tomb is now South Africa's symbol. Ruins tell the story of a civilization that mysteriously collapsed.

Why It's a World Heritage Site

Mapungubwe represents the development of southern Africa's first complex society (900-1300 AD). Archaeological finds include the famous golden rhino. The landscape shows the transition from agricultural societies to trading states.

UNESCO Criteria

(ii)Interchange of human values
(iii)Testimony to cultural tradition
(iv)Example of building or landscape type
(v)Example of traditional human settlement

Frequently Asked Questions

For representing southern Africa's first complex society with exceptional archaeological finds.

It was inscribed in 2003 under criteria (ii), (iii), (iv) and (v).

An 800-year-old gold figurine; South Africa's national symbol, in Pretoria University Museum.

At the confluence of Limpopo and Shashe rivers, border of South Africa, Botswana and Zimbabwe.

Probably climate change and resource depletion; population migrated toward Great Zimbabwe.