King Ingwe's Grave a Treasure Trove. (10 September, 1996)

Significant amounts of gold jewellery were found in the grave of King Ingwe yesterday by the forensics team excavating at Thulamela in the northernmost reaches of Kruger Park. Using dental probes to carefully dislodge the King's skeleton from the soil in which it was buried over 400 years ago, the team from the University of Pretoria found the largest gold bead yet discovered at the royal citadel.

The perfectly shaped bead, which is about the size of a pea, would have been crafted by dropping molten gold into water, team member Marius Loots said. Two bracelets of finely twisted gold coil were also found on the skeleton. But the most spectacular find was the discovery that Ingwe was buried with an elaborate sash made of fine rolled iron studded with gold. The iron had rusted away and only the gold studs could be retrieved. The amount of gold found in the grave and the surrounding tomb was further confirmation of the King's high status, scientists said.

By the end of the work day most of the soil surrounding the King's skeleton had been removed and scientists started the delicate task of lifting the extremely brittle bones one by one from the grave.

Scientists are now positive that King Ingwe's bones were placed in the grave some time after his death. National Parks Board archaeologist Sidney Miller said according to custom, the King's body would have been wrapped in black cowhide and left at the back of his hut. 'Normally it was the duty of the womenfolk to fix any cracks in the walls of dwellings and to repair the thatching. In the case of King Ingwe they would not have done any repairs, and when the cracks appeared, this would indicate that the King's spirit had departed,' said archaeologist Edwin Hanisch from the University's Department of Anthropology. After that, the burial, with all honours, would have taken place.

Ingwe was placed in a shallow hole dug into the floor of his dwelling and lined with stones. A conical dome of clay was then built over this and the dwelling structure was then collapsed on top of him some time between 1450 and 1600. Scientists believe the site was then abandoned. It was also apparent that the King's body was dismembered. Leg and arm bones were placed on either side of the skull, with the rest of the bones forming a cradle.

Two sets of bones provided proof that the body was definitely male, team leader Dr Maryna Stein said. These were the extremely square jaw and the lower bones of the spine. Scientists took DNA samples and scraped minute quantities of enamel from the teeth. These will be subjected to tests which will reveal details of his diet.

Yesterday Mr Alan Wright, Chief Executive of Gold Fields, and Michael Tagg, Chairman of the Gold Fields Foundation, which is funding the Thulamela project, visited the site. During their visit, Gold Fields announced that because of the extraordinary national importance of Thulamela, the foundation would extend its funding.

Tomorrow, detailed excavations will start on an experimental trench dug into a mound in the centre of what was the King's audience chamber. Archaeologists at the site said the chamber was unique and should be subjected to detailed analysis. By Anita Allen, Pafuri. Courtesy of The Star newspaper, Johannesburg.