Iron Age agro-pastoralists

Research has shown that Hlamba Mlonga hill, near Malilangwe’s Head Quarters, was occupied between the late 10th and 15th centuries by successive communities of Iron Age agro-pastoralists. Evidence from glass beads, animal remains and smelting activity suggests that these people utilized local resources including ivory, wildlife skins and rich iron deposits to generate wealth by trading with other groups from the surrounding regions.

From the 10th to the 13th centuries, it appears that activity at Hlamba Mlonga was influenced by the Mapungubwe civilization that was located close to the confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, three hundred kilometers to the south-west. However, during the 14th century the Zimbabwe state, with its capital at Great Zimbabwe, became the dominant influence. This shift may be explained by the collapse of Mapungubwe and the rise of the Zimbabwe state at that time. Hlamba Mlonga is situated midway between Great Zimbabwe and the Mozambique coast making it ideally placed to act as a trade link between the two areas.

Numerous glass beads, manufactured on the Indian subcontinent and in south-east Asia, were found during excavations at Hlamba Mlonga. This suggests participation in the trading network linking the Zimbabwe state with the Mozambique coast.