Fingerprinting of gold artefacts from Mapungubwe, Bosutswe and Thulamela

Abstract

The AARL gold fingerprinting technology has been applied to the analysis of gold artefacts excavated from the southern African sites of Mapungubwe, Bosutswe and Thulamela. Information gleaned from this process is relevant to studies conducted into artefact origins and provides increased insight into the history of this region with regards to the mining, cultural and trade practices associated with these early communities.