Ngo-1933, ukutholakala okuphawulekayo kwamathuna angaziwa kwasungulwa eduze nendikimba yendawo eqinile yamatshe kulokhu okwamanje yinye yezindawo eziphambili zePaki yezwe yase Mapungubwe (MapungubweNational Park).
Ukutholakala kokuhlobisa okuyingqayizivele, isifanekiso sabhejane esegolide eliqinile kanye nobuhlalu obuvela emhlabeni wonke kwaholela izithandazidalwa zihambe esikhathini sendulo, soMbuso weMapungubwe. Kwaphela iminyaka engaphezu kwamakhulu ayisikhombisa, ulwazi oluvamile kulaba bantu abakhohlwa isikhathi eside alukho, kodwa indaba yabo manje ibhekane nalolu daba lokugcinwa kwezemvelo olugxile ekuthuthukisweni kwemvelo.
Yindaba eyaqala kusukela ngo-1200 AD (imelela i-Anno Domini, okuyiLatini kusho "unyaka lweNkosi yethu"), lapho indawo yesikhathi sensimbi ibuswa yinkosi yase-Afrika enmandla amakhulu. Izivakashi manje zihambela epaki ukuze zifunde ngalesi sizwe esavele sahamba, futhi sihlala siyisisekelo esiyinhloko esenza ukuthi leli paki lilondolozwe kusekela eminyakeni yama 90s.