Schroda Figurines

These clay figurines were first found on the site of Schroda in the Limpopo River Valley. Schroda is an Iron Age site and was occupied from about 900AD to just after 1000AD. Schroda is one of the largest settlements in the Shashe-Limpopo basin at the time and is assumed to have been the home to the wealthiest chief, and therefore the capital city. The people who inhabited the site are known in archaeological terms as the Zhizo Culture.

Over 2,000 figurines – most of them broken – been found in the area. These figurines are thought to have been part of a female initiation rituals, and were used to demonstrate lessons about life, love and responsibility.

Giraffe - the figurine has red spots on it, that are thought to be ochre. The spots could indicate the pattern of the giraffe but red is also associated with fire, heat, blood and life, and was considered dangerous amongst many iron age communities.
Hippopotamus - the figurine is widely regarded as being the "jewel in the crown" of the Schroad pieces. It is the largest of all the figurines and there is great deal in the face. As with the giraffe figurine, it is also covered with red ochre.