Mapungubwe gold beads

Thousands of gold beads have been excavated from the burial area, 'Gold Grave', (M7 Nos. 14 – A623) on Mapungubwe Hill (AD 1250 - AD 1290). Beads were excavated individually and none of them were found strung and it is estimated that over 26 000 are within the Mapungubwe Collection. Bead fabrication research indicates that some gold beads were disc-like and others globular and punched with deliberately smoothed holes. Some gold beads were flattened and shaped after an annealing treatment, and were then most likely perforated by an iron implement. Other gold beads were notched on the outside or displayed clear punch marks in the centre, while others were coiled and had a small space where the two ends met. The gold beads vary in size, ranging from 1.35mm to 4.40mm, and a handful of larger beads from 5mm to 8mm in size. A majority of the gold beads were excavated from the ‘Sceptre Burial’ (M5.nos.10-A619) and the ‘Gold Grave’ (M7.nos.14-A623).