Bambata Cave
Bambata
Zimbabwe · Matabeleland South
In brief
The cave is known for the Bambata pottery named after it and its Stone Age layers. In 2024, the MATOBART project reopened two test trenches to investigate the stratigraphy and dating.
What was found?
- 1Paintings of humans and antelopes
Depictions of humans and antelopes have been preserved on the cave walls. They bear direct witness to the visual world of hunter-gatherers.
- 2Painted rock fragments
Painted fragments that broke away from the walls have been found in archaeological layers. They help establish connections between wall art and the phases of the cave's use.
- 3Pigment-processing tools
Grinding stones, pounders and pigments have been found. They allow researchers to investigate the material preparation stage of painting.
- 4Stone and bone tools
Tools made from different materials have been recovered from the cave fill. They allow everyday production activities to be traced alongside the paintings.
What does it point to?
Bambata was a cave that was both used and adorned with paintings. According to researchers, the diversity of subjects and techniques in the depictions is suitable for investigating cultural differences among communities and changes over time.
What did it teach us?
- Stoneworking and boneworking have been documented alongside painting production.
- Painted fragments offer an opportunity to investigate the history of rock art through occupation layers.
Record
- Culture
- Bambata pottery tradition
- First modern dig
- 1918
- Team / historical
- MATOBART
- Coordinates
- -20.5033°, 28.4061°
Sources
Nearby excavations
- Pomongwe Cave 12 km
- Khami Ruins 38 km
- Danamombe 115 km
- Mapungubwe Hill 207 km
- Great Zimbabwe 265 km
- Sterkfontein Caves 617 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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