Ha Makoanyane: the archaeology and history of colonial transitions in Lesotho

Abstract

Ha Makoanyane in Lesotho was excavated in 2010 as part of the Metolong Cultural Resource Management (MCRM) Project ahead of the construction of the Metolong Dam, and represents a significant advance both in our archaeological understanding of the Maloti-Drakensberg region and in public participation in archaeological practice. The site, occupied from roughly 1881 until the 1960s, offers a window on a major transitional period in Lesotho’s colonial history, in terms of both the region’s economy and the role of traditional authority. This case study highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches to such recent periods, including bringing ethnohistoric, archival and archaeological evidence to bear upon short-lived and potentially disturbed archaeology. It also identifies future directions for the archaeology of Farming Communities in Lesotho and for community collaboration therein.