THE IRON AGE IN ZAMBIA

The Sources

Archaeology is the most important source of information used to reconstruct this period in
Zambia. The remains which have been most significant in establishing the origins and
movements of different groups of people in this age is pottery. The different styles of
decoration and forms of the pottery allow us to identify different groups and inform us about
the origin of these groups. Most pottery styles originated from areas to the north-east and
north-west of Zambia. The C-14 method of dating is the major source for dating the
excavation sites since charcoal and organic remains were now common on many sites. Most
of the excavations in Zambia from which the information has come to us were begun in the
late 1950s and early 1960s by people such as R.R. Inskeep, Brian Fagan, and D.W.
Phillipson. Most of the sites belonging to this age are in the south of Zambia. This is partly so
because it was in the southern part of Zambia and along the line of rail that the colonial
administration started to develop the land and in doing so they dug up many ancient remains.
In addition a museum and research institute was based in Livingstone. This made research
resources in the south readily available. And most of all, the environment in the south was
more conducive for early iron age farmers than anywhere else in the country. so it was in the
south of Zambia that the first farming communities developed.

The Early Iron Age

It is believed that the first Bantu iron age farmers reached Zambia in the first few centuries
AD. Based on the study of pottery, two different streams or waves in the spread of early iron
age farming into central and southern Africa have been distinguished: an eastern stream, and
a western stream. Both streams are represented in Zambia by different groups.

The eastern stream entered Zambia from southern Tanzania going southwards to the east of
the Luangwa river continuing into Malawi and Zimbabwe. Pottery of this group in Zambia’s
eastern province has been dated to as early as 300 to 400 AD. The group is called after a site
in Malawi where an early iron age settlement has been excavated: the Nkope group. In
Zambia there is only one site belonging to this group; the Kamnama site. Iron was worked on
the site but no traces of copper and food production were found. Any other finds in Zambia of
pottery from this group are associated with late stone age tools at the rock shelters of Makwe
and Thandwe. This suggests that the early farmers lived side by side with late stone age
hunters and gatherers and exchanged goods with them. Also rock paintings dating back to

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this time have been found in the area. Another group belonging to the eastern stream
established itself in the southern province of Zambia from Zimbabwe in about the 6th century
AD. At an earlier stage however the area seems to have been occupied by another group. The
later eastern stream group from Zimbabwe that arrived in the 6th century is however best
known. This is called the Dambwa group or the Shongwe group. Their pottery style lasted
throughout the first millennium AD at different sites. The most important sites are at
Dambwa, Kumadzulo, the Bovu forest reserve and at Chundu Farm. Ironsmithing and
smelting were well established. A variety of iron tools were found among them hoes. Copper
wire was found, probably originating from south of the Zambezi; suggesting the existence of
regional trade networks. At Kumadzulo there were also traces of houses. Here, among other
tools were bodkins and needles. These items prove the existence of a cloth making industry.
The mandible and teeth from an ox as well as a small clay figure shaped like an ox-head were
also retrieved. Graves were unearthed at Dambwa and Chundu with, at the latter site, one
grave containing grave goods among which were cowrie shells. These cowrie shells and glass
beads from Kumadzulo show us that there was indirect contact with the Indian ocean coast.

The western stream on the other hand entered Zambia through southern Congo D.R. and
spread into the western and central provinces of Zambia. A distinction within this movement
here has been made between four groups: the Chondwe, Kapwirimbwe, Kalundu and
Lungwebungu. The early iron age sequence of the Lungwebungu group in western Zambia is
known to us from only one site that is found at Lubusi in Kaoma district dating back to the 8th
and 10th centuries AD. (This type of pottery is also present in Angola). In the Kaoma area,
clay, which is the raw material for pottery, is scarce. Vessels were most likely made of wood
or grass and could therefore not survive.

The Chondwe group is named after a site on the Copperbelt which produced a distinctive
pottery style. The area must have attracted quite some interest because of the availability of
copper. Early copper mines can be found at Bwana Mkubwa and Kansanshi hill. The mining
however was still limited. No direct evidence of food production has been found here.

The Kapwirimbwe group, which is situated around Lusaka, has pottery that is similar to the
pottery from the Chondwe group. Its name is derived from a site to the east of Lusaka where
iron workings have been found. There was however no trace of copper. Domestic cattle were
found here. This site has been dated to the 5th century A.D. which is the earliest date for food
production in Zambia. Another site belonging to this group is on Chakeluka road (formerly

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Twickenham road) in Olympia Park, and is dated to about the 10th century A.D. Here, too,
iron workings were found as well as bones of domesticated goats.

The Kalundu group which is situated south of the Kafue is dated to between the 5th and 9th
centuries A.D. Most of these sites are of villages that show signs of prolonged or repeated
occupation spread over many centuries suggesting a dense population. From the Kalundu site,
near Kalomo, bones of domesticated cattle, sheep and goats were found as well as bones of
game. Copper and iron objects were also found. Other sites belonging to this group are at
Basanga and at Mwanamaimpa.

Conclusion

Although there were differences in pottery style, the way of life of the early iron age people
was more or less the same all over Zambia. The early iron age farmers in northern and eastern
Zambia were very few and were long term nomads settling at a place near water for some
years until the land was exhausted and then they moved the village to another place. They
still depended much on hunting and gathering. Semi-permanent structures were built. The
environment here was one of woodlands and therefore did not attract many farmers. They
appear to have lived side by side with late stone age hunters and gatherers. In the centre and
south of Zambia, the picture is somewhat different. The population here is was much bigger
and seems to have been more developed. The environment is one of floodplains and savanna.
It is an open environment that is more suitable for early iron age farming since little forest
clearance was needed. Iron ore was readily available. However, they still depended on
hunting and gathering for their food supply. They also shifted their villages in search of fresh
land. The humans responsible for all this in Zambia are a mixture of Bantu and Khoisan.