Revealing a rich and complex history that extends back over a thousand years, their work sheds light on the early trade networks, economic systems, and state formations that shaped the region long before European influence.
Most South Africans were taught that gold mining only began in the mid-19th century, that iron and copper exports were a colonial-era development, and that the Zulu Kingdom was the first major state in South Africa. However, these perspectives overlook centuries of African innovation, trade, and governance.
“Our research is attempting to rethink South African history,” says Dr Forssman. “The formative steps in South Africa’s past began along the Limpopo River, where early societies engaged in trade, mining, and state-building long before European settlers arrived.”
Early Cooperative Networks
Two thousand years ago, the Limpopo River Valley was home to San hunter-gatherers who were deeply connected to regional trade networks that spanned vast distances. Around 350 AD, Bantu-speaking, iron-using farmers settled in the Soutpansberg region, south of the Limpopo. They brought with them advanced metallurgical skills, producing iron tools, weapons, and jewellery that fuelled trade both locally and beyond. Contrary to common belief, early interactions between these groups were not purely conflict-driven. “There was cooperation, particularly in hunting and trading,” explains Dr Forssman. “These relationships helped shape the economic landscape of the region.”
By the 7th century AD, the Indian Ocean trading system had reached southern Africa, linking the interior to a vast transoceanic economy. African traders exchanged ivory, gold, and other resources for exotic goods such as glass beads and cloth from Asia and the Middle East. The Mozambican coastal settlement of Chibuene became a key trade hub, with goods flowing deep into the interior, reaching as far as modern-day Botswana and KwaZulu-Natal.
An aerial view of an ancient residential enclosure in Thulamela.
Between the 10th and 15th centuries, demand for gold surged in regions such as Egypt, India, and China. Southern Africa played a vital role in meeting this demand, particularly through the gold reserves of the Zimbabwe plateau and the Limpopo Valley. This long-established economic system directly contradicts the notion that South Africa’s mineral revolution began in the colonial era.
The Rise of African States
The wealth generated from trade contributed to the emergence of social hierarchies and the rise of powerful states. In 1220, Mapungubwe - the first major state in southern Africa - was established in the Limpopo Valley. Over the following centuries, other influential states arose, including Great Zimbabwe, Thulamela, the Venda Kingdom, the Pedi Kingdom, and later the Zulu Kingdom.
Among these, the trading state of Thulamela, located in the northern Kruger National Park, was a key centre of production and exchange between 1250 and 1650. Despite its historical significance, it remained largely ignored until the 1990s, when research efforts began to uncover its role in regional trade and governance.
The research challenges the long-standing belief that the Zulu Kingdom was the first powerful state in South Africa. “The Zulu Kingdom was a relatively recent example of a much older tradition of state formation,” says Professor Delius. “South Africa’s interior was already home to well-established trade networks and political structures long before the 19th century.”
Pottery is common at Iron Age sites, and their decorations are specific to groups and periods.
By the time European settlers expanded into the interior in the 19th century, they encountered a region already shaped by centuries of African trade, governance, and economic activity. The ensuing struggle over land, labour, and resources marked the collision of two worlds - one built on indigenous African networks and another driven by colonial expansion.
Understanding this missing millennium requires a broader approach to historical research. “We need to go beyond English-language sources and engage with oral traditions, archaeology, linguistics, and genetics,” notes Chewins. “Collaboration across disciplines will help us gain a more accurate picture of the past.”
As historians and researchers continue to piece together this forgotten chapter of South Africa’s history, one thing is clear: the country’s past is far richer and more complex than previously thought. By re-examining history through an African-centred lens, scholars are uncovering a legacy of innovation, trade, and leadership that has shaped South Africa for over a thousand years.
This article is republished from The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/south-africas-history-uncovered-the-1-000-year-gap-they-dont-teach-in-school-248244