Mapungubwe collection museumGauteng, South africa
Mapungubwe Collection museum inside the University of Pretoria's old arts building 1
A museum in Pretoria showing artifacts excavated from the Mapungubwe sites since its discovery in 1933 until its declaration as a world heritage site in 2003.
This was home to one of Africa's earliest advanced pre-colonial kingdoms that thrived during the 13th century, around what is today the Mapungubwe national park.
As the site was in a remote area, it was hard to secure, and some of the artifacts were stolen — ending up on the black market or in the arms of private collectors.
What remained is on display at a museum near the site, as well as at this museum, housed inside the University of Pretoria's old arts building — a large two storey sandstone building with a c-shaped ground plan and a large clock tower atop its centre.
Its collection includes ceramics and various artifacts made from clay, ivory and gold such as the famous golden rhino, golden sceptre, bowls beads, bracelets, animal figurines and gold nails.
There also are other artifacts in the same museum from west Africa and China.
What to do thereSee or know more about the Mapungubwe collection as well as other artifacts from Africa.
May need to call beforehand.
Best time to visitAny time of the year.
Location of Mapungubwe collection museumInside the University of Pretoria's old arts building.
How to get thereBy train, public minibus, walking, cycling, vehicle.
There is a train and bus station within walking distance, as well as a small airport within the city's limits and a larger on in Johannesburg nearby.
References1. By Sian Tiley-Nel - Photo provided by Sian Tiley-Nel, Manager & Chief Curator, University of Pretoria Museums as part of the m:Research:Wikipedia Primary School SSAJRP programme, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47691213
This was home to one of Africa's earliest advanced pre-colonial kingdoms that thrived during the 13th century, around what is today the Mapungubwe national park.
As the site was in a remote area, it was hard to secure, and some of the artifacts were stolen — ending up on the black market or in the arms of private collectors.
What remained is on display at a museum near the site, as well as at this museum, housed inside the University of Pretoria's old arts building — a large two storey sandstone building with a c-shaped ground plan and a large clock tower atop its centre.
Its collection includes ceramics and various artifacts made from clay, ivory and gold such as the famous golden rhino, golden sceptre, bowls beads, bracelets, animal figurines and gold nails.
There also are other artifacts in the same museum from west Africa and China.
What to do thereSee or know more about the Mapungubwe collection as well as other artifacts from Africa.
May need to call beforehand.
Best time to visitAny time of the year.
Location of Mapungubwe collection museumInside the University of Pretoria's old arts building.
How to get thereBy train, public minibus, walking, cycling, vehicle.
There is a train and bus station within walking distance, as well as a small airport within the city's limits and a larger on in Johannesburg nearby.
References1. By Sian Tiley-Nel - Photo provided by Sian Tiley-Nel, Manager & Chief Curator, University of Pretoria Museums as part of the m:Research:Wikipedia Primary School SSAJRP programme, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=47691213
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