Collection of wild plant foods in Tembe Thonga society: a guide to Iron Age gathering activities

Abstract

Gathering of wild plant foods by Tembe Thonga agro-pastoralists is discussed with reference to coastal plain archaeological sites, which are characteristically poor in plant remains. Of the many edible plant species used today, only three species (Sclerocarya birrea caffra, Strychnos madagascariensis and Parinari curatellifolia) require preparation using durable materials which could indicate their past use.