Heritage Cases

THIS IS THE ARCHIVE FOR SAHRIS 1.0


THIS SITE IS NOW AN ARCHIVE AND IS NOT SUITABLE FOR MAKING APPLICATIONS

Please be aware that no content and application creation or changes to information on this version of SAHRIS will be retained.

To make applications or utilise SAHRIS for the creation of information, please use the new site:

https://sahris.org.za

Changes to SAHRIS!

The South African Heritage Resources Information System (SAHRIS) has undergone a generational upgrade and restructure. These changes to the site include, but are not limited to:

  • A new & modernised look and layout
  • Improved site usage flows with respect to applications and content creation
  • Improved site performance and stability

Launch for the new version of SAHRIS occurred on Monday the 30th of October 2023.

The new site can be found here:

SAHRIS | SAHRIS

SAHRA Application Closure

Please note the following concerning applications submitted to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA) during the December 2023 to January 2024 period.

The full notice is available here: Notice

Special Notice

Following comments received on the proposed Revised Schedule of Fees for applications made to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA), made in terms of Section 25(2)(l) of the National Heritage Resources Act No. 25 of 1999 (NHRA) and published in the Government Gazette of 22 July 2022, SAHRA hereby publishes the final Revised Schedule of Fees for Applications made to SAHRA. Applications for provision of services submitted to the South African Heritage Resources Authority (SAHRA), in terms of the National Heritage Resources Act, No. 25 of 1999 (NHRA) must be accompanied by a payment of the appropriate fee, taking effect from 1 January 2023

Revised Schedule of Fees for Applications made to the South African Heritage Resources Agency (SAHRA)

DNA studies of Iron Age cattle remains

  • Log in to post comments
  • 449 reads

CaseViews

CaseHeader

Status: 

HeritageAuthority(s): 

Case Type: 

ProposalDescription: 

We wish to analyse the DNA of cattle remains, mostly teeth, from a few Iron Age sites to establish the genetic profile of local herds in the Mapungubwe area. It is possible that the exotic zebu breed was introduced through the Indian Ocean trade network.

Expanded_Motivation: 

Cattle were important to the political economy of pre-colonial farming societies in southern Africa. The Nguni breed is thought to be a good representative of indigenous Sanga herds here, whereas the thoracic-humped, Indian Zebu was common in East Africa (Frisch et al. 1977; Magnavita 2006). According to Epstein (1971), all humped African cattle are the result of crossbreeding between Bos taurus and Bos indicus. At first, neck-humped Zebu interbreed with African cattle to create the Sanga. Later, the thoracic-humped Zebu contributed to African breeds. Because some Middle Iron Age clay figurines show thoracic humps (e.g. Robinson 1961:212), and because some Iron Age faunal assemblages include bifid vertebrae (Huffman 2008:208; Voigt 1983:61), we wonder whether Zebu were introduced to southern Africa as a result of the Indian Ocean trade network. Unfortunately, the Rinderpest epidemic in the late 1890s destroyed a huge proportion of indigenous herds, so DNA studies of modern cattle (e.g. Hanotte et al. 2000) may not reflect Iron Age genetic patterns. It is thus necessary to sample Middle Iron Age remains.

ApplicationDate: 

Monday, March 31, 2014 - 16:27

CaseID: 

5230

OtherReferences: 

Heritage Reports: 

DNA studies of Iron Age cattle remains

ReferenceList: 
 
 

Search form