Gold foil decorated finial

An intricate gold foil decorated finial form from Mapungubwe in South Africa. The finial consisting of a decorated half-moon form connected to a decorated cylindrical form. The half-moon form has two symmetrical apertures and a chevron decoration which continues on the cylindrical form. The cylindrical form has two raised ridges and two raised nodules under the half-moon form. Originating from the archaeological site of Mapungubwe Hill, associated with a burial, dating from CE 1250 to CE 1290. 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.