Gold cattle figure

A gold bovine figurine from Mapungubwe in South Africa. This figurine probably represents a Mapungubwe-type southern African domestic cattle that was originally mounted onto a wooden core, which has since decayed. The facial profile is relatively flat or straight from poll to snout. The figure has down-turned horns (or ears) forming a downward continuation of the curve of the poll and is depicted with a distinctive hump. The bovine has clearly defined fore-limbs and a bulged rump and the head tapers inward and the flares out to form a snout, with decorative folds in the foil, to indicate a clear mouth and nostrils. The eyes are formed by two large perforations (which probably held solid gold nails as eyes). An aperture on the rump is visible, but there is no tail. There are also a multitude of nail perforations across the torso. The torso is fragmentary and reconstructed from more than 40 gold foil fragments, mostly intact with very few being torn foil. Burnishing imprints and tool marks are visible on exterior surface as evidence of the production process. Portions of the gold torso were incorrectly matched with other gold foil fragments and were previously lead soldered in the 1980s. The gold has been dated to CE 1250 - CE 1290- this is the Iron Age period of southern Africa. The archaeological landscape of Mapungubwe in South Africa was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2003. The Mapungubwe Collection is stewarded under the University of Pretoria where the archaeological collection is on public exhibition for the purposes of research and education.