Browsing by Author "Shenjere, Plan"

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    The animal economy of prehistoric farming communities in manicalani), eastern zimbabwe
    (University of Dar es Salaam,, 2011) Shenjere, Plan
    The thesis sought to understand the animal economy of prehistoric farming communities in Manicaland, eastern Zimbabwe. It was done within archaeozoological and culture historical methodological frameworks by exploring diachronic as well as synchronic patterns of both wild and domestic animal resource utilization. Both quantitative and qualitative research approaches were used. Quantitative research approach was employed in archaeological surveys and excavations during data collection. Faunal, pottery, beads and other data were quantitatively analysed whilst results from ethnographic inquiries were qualitatively analysed. The research strategies were exploratory and comparative. The study has revealed that from the 5th to the 9th centuries AD, EFC’s animal economy was dominated by rearing of small livestock supplemented by few cattle as well as hunting, snaring and gathering. Later Farming Communities associated with socio-political complexity in the 2nd millennium AD had an animal economy that indicated preponderance on cattle with a few small stocks supplemented by minimal hunting. Animal exploitation trends were influenced by the environment, exploitative technology coupled up with human adaptability including communities’ choices against their belief systems and worldview. New data has also revealed that Early Farming Communities in eastern Zimbabwe date from the 3rd to 5th centuries extending into AD 9th century, a much longer period than previously thought. Stable isotope analysis suggests a wetter environment when both sites were occupied than it exists in the areas today. Faunal studies are invaluable in understanding prehistoric human behaviour. In order to fully understand economic, socio-cultural, political histories and trajectories of past communities, their use of animals need to be accorded similar attention to all other archaeological materials.
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    Faunal remains from Murahwa’s hill in Manyikaland, Eastern Zimbabwe: an archaeozoological investigation
    (University of Dar es Salaam, 2006) Shenjere, Plan
    The project analyses faunal materials recovered from excavation at the site of munahwa’s Hill in East Zimbabwe. Broadly, taxonomic representation, relative abundance and socio-cultural aspects as well as paleo environment were investigated. Murahwa’s Hill was compared with another site in the same region known as Mountain Muozi (Mt.Muozi). The two sites are associated with important socio-political development in eastern Zimbabwe and broadly date to the same archaeological period. The former has been dated to the mid-15th century AD and the latter was dated between 15th and 18th centuries AD. Analysis of faunal remains was carried out using comparative materials at the Transvaal Museum in Pretoria, South Africa. Reconnaissance surveys were conducted in order to study the physiographic setting and context of the materials. This was important since a description of local environmental characteristics clearly relates to the archaeology of the two sites. Ethnographic investigations formed another important component of the research for reconstruction of cultural and symbolic aspects relating to communities animal meat economy because faunal remains included worked bone. The faunal assemblage showed that Murahwa’s Hill community exploited both domestic and wild species. Comparative analysis showed major variations in substance strategies for the two sites. NISP and MNI counts indicated that at Murahwa’s Hill, herding and hunting played an equally important role, while at Mt. Muozi, meat economy was mainly based on domesticates. It implies that herding played a highly important role in subsistence strategies for the inhabitants. Inferences were made on the pale environment of the area. The research has shown the importance of faunal studies in our understanding of the archaeology of Manyikaland. However, while some new data may have been generated, some questions remain partially or not answered and new questions, which call for further research, have presented themselves.