Definition: The Phalaborwa complex, in the eastern Transvaal region of South Africa, is a collection of Iron Age sites, the date of which has been recently revised to the Late Iron Age of the 2nd millennium AD. From 1965-1973, the area was investigated by South African archaeologist Nikolaas van der Merwe, who added ethnographic research, oral history and chemical analysis to the study of the community.
Van der Merwe related the Phalaborwa complex pottery to modern Sotho. Evidence for several hundred copper and iron mining and smelting loci was found, as well as forged tools such as arrowpoints, wire, agricultural hoes, and adzes, and decorative items such as beads and bracelets.
Phalaborwa also had a prominent role in the history of stable isotope research.
Sources
Nikolaas J. van der Merwe and R. T. K. Scully. 1971 The Phalaborwa story: Archaeologial and ethnographic investigation of a South African Iron Age group. World Archaeology 3(2):178-196.
This glossary entry is part of the Dictionary of Archaeology. Thanks to Nikolaas Van der Merwe for his assistance. Any mistakes are the responsibility of Kris Hirst.
