Economic and ideological roles of copper ingots in prehistoric Zimbabwe

As well as being modes of supplying metal, cross-shaped copper ingots in Zimbabwe are shown to be emblems of currency and status. The author dates them to the first half of the second millennium AD and connects the appearance of ingots to increased social stratification.

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Bibliographic Details
Published inAntiquity Vol. 81; no. 314; pp. 999 - 1012
Main Author Swan, Lorraine M.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Cambridge, UK Cambridge University Press 01.12.2007
Portland Press
Subjects
African studies
Analysis
Archaeology
Archaeology subjects
Arkeologiämnen
Copper
Copper castings
Cultural diffusion
Currencies
Design and construction
Development banks
Farming
Historisk-filosofiska ämnen
History and philosophy subjects
HUMANIORA och RELIGIONSVETENSKAP
HUMANITIES and RELIGION
Ideology
Ingots
Material culture
Metal industry
Methodology and general studies
Middle Ages
Millennium
Museums
Prehistory
Prehistory and protohistory
Social archaeology
Social aspects
Social stratification
Social structure
Typology, technology and attribute analysis
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Africa
Zimbabwe
copper
social structure
middle ages
ingots
Status
Cross
Metal
Appearance
Supplying
Lingot
Emblem
well
Social Structure
Copper
Metal industry
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Summary:As well as being modes of supplying metal, cross-shaped copper ingots in Zimbabwe are shown to be emblems of currency and status. The author dates them to the first half of the second millennium AD and connects the appearance of ingots to increased social stratification.
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ArticleID:09607
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ISSN:0003-598X
1745-1744
1745-1744
DOI:10.1017/S0003598X00096071