Mapungubwe - Iron Age Capital in Africa

Mapungubwe was an important Iron Age capital in Africa during the 13th century AD, where enormous quantities of beads and gold objects were recovered. Mapungubwe was about a century older than its rival Great Zimbabwe.

Although you won't find it discussed in too much detail in the archaeological record, Mapungubwe's elite residences included a game board for playing the historically important game of mufuhva and illustrated in this photo. But that is only part of the fascinating evidence recovered from Mapungubwe over the past 80 years.

• Read more about Mapungubwe
• African Iron Age
• More African Iron Age archaeological sites