Archaeology Without Borders: A Case for the Shashe- Limpopo Basin Archaeology, Eastern Botswana

Abstract

Much of our knowledge of the archaeology of the Shashe-Limpopo basin is based on research conducted on the South Africa side of the Limpopo and Shashe rivers confluence. The Mapungubwe Cultural Landscape, in spite of its recent inscription on the World Heritage List still focuses on South African sites only. This gives a rather biased approach for a region rich in archaeological heritage across the three counties and whose former inhabitants has no movement restrictions. This chapter presents the archaeological characterisation of the Confluence Area from the Botswana side, as part of larger Shashe-Limpopo Basin, and questions whether archaeology or archaeological landscapes have borders.