Ukwakheka Komhlaba wase-Mapungubwe

Ibhanti Lentshukumo yase-Limpopo

©Roger de la Harpe

Ngokwakheka komhlaba, i-Mapungubwe ihleli pha kumlambo ophakathi kwamatye amabini e-granite (indawo enkulu eneqweqwe elizinzileyo). Lomxinzelelelo ubizwa ngokuba ‘Libhanti lentshukumo yase-Limpopo’. Pha kwizigidi zeminyaka eyi 250, iqweqwe lomhlaba laqala lasuka lisiya ngasebhantini futhi ilitye elityhidiweyo lashovelwa ngaphakathi ngenxa yokuqhekeka kwamatye entlabathi.

Lonto ikhuphe amatye amnyama we-dolerite, futhi xasele amatye wentlabathi atshabalale, i-dolerite enzima iye yashiyeka isenza imiphetho eqhelekileyo ngokwesimo.

Ukusuka kumntla wentaba yase-Mapungubwe ubona cacileyo umzekelo ogciniweyo, onqumla phakathi kwembonakalo yomhlaba njengomgca obukhali omnyama. Abantu abaninzi bacinga ukuba indawo yamanzi ludonga olwenziwe ngabahlali base Mapungubwe.

Umlambo wase-Limpopo

©Roger de la Harpe

Kodwa kwakukhona impilo pha kumlambo wase Limpopo kwizigidi zeminyaka phambi kokuba kufike abantu. I-Fosili ze-Dayinaso ukusuka pha kwizigidi zeminyaka eyi 200, zade funywanwa. Enye izinto ezimangalisayo zomhlaba ziquka ifosili zezityalo zeentyatyambo, izinambuzane kunye neziduli. Uhambo lwe-dayinaso luthe lwabonakala, lubhaleke phantsi kumatye oodake.

Nangona kungekho ifosili ezifunyenweyo, izixhobo zabantu bamandulo kwindawo zabo zokuhlala, zibonakala kuyo yonke ipaki yelizwe i-Mapungubwe. Ekutsheni nje, abazobi bamatye bamandulo, njenga bantu be-San, baye baqaba amatye ngemidwebo ukuya nase zindongeni zemiqolomba pha ecaleni kwentaba yase Leokwe.

Translated by Aviwe Damane