Blaauboschkraal stone ruins

Blaauboshkraal Stone Ruins
Blaauboschkraal stone ruins is located in Mpumalanga
Blaauboschkraal stone ruins
Shown within Mpumalanga
Blaauboschkraal stone ruins is located in South Africa
Blaauboschkraal stone ruins
Blaauboschkraal stone ruins (South Africa)
LocationSouth Africa
RegionMpumalanga
Coordinates25°35′41″S 30°17′20″E / 25.5947°S 30.2888°E / -25.5947; 30.2888
TypeStone Wall used for agricultural Terracing and as a kraal[1]
Part ofBokoni
Length≈50m
Width≈50m
Height≈1-2m[1]
History
Founded≈ 16th Century[1]
PeriodsLate Iron Age
CulturesBokoni
Associated withBokoni
Site notes
ConditionSurface artefact visibility moderate due natural erosional exposure.
Public accessYes

The Blaauboschkraal stone ruins are a provincial heritage site in the Mpumalanga province of South Africa. Its neighbouring town, Emgwenya, is 10 kilometres away. The site was declared a national monument on 18 April 1975[2] and is a heritage site recognised by the South African Heritage Resources Agency.

Bokoni stone ruins with Mpumalanga landscape in the background
Bokoni Stone Ruins
Bauwboschkraal Stone Ruins 30 April 2023

The Blaauboschkraal stone ruins make up what was part of a large, complex stone walling system built by the Bokoni people. While the exact age of the Blaauboschkraal stone sites is unknown the Bokoni people are estimated to have built stone walled settlements around the early 16th century. The site is assumed to have been used for cattle enclosures, agricultural terracing, and housing for the Bokoni people. This has been hypothesised due to the circular shaping of stone walling that characterises this site.[3]

  1. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Klerk, W. A. (2019). Bokoni of Mpumalanga. Pretoria: University of South Africa
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :7 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).