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Thulamela, an Archaeological Site

At sites such as Thulamela, in the North of the Kruger National Park. Here  traces of ancient traders are still being found which proves Man to have been here. These artifacts are in the form of: glass beads; 'Chinese porcelain; imported cloth; ivory bracelets; gold; bronze and other jewellery.' Glass beads are also found in the Rivers of the: Balule; Skukuza and Letaba River.
Evidence of Early Humans is also found in the Area, dating back some 1.5 Million Years. The San people also lived in the area as far back as 100 000 years ago. Some 2 000 year's ago, the first Nguni speaking people, looking for more grazing land for their cattle, migrated South into the area and displaced the San.
By 800 AD, the Arabs started raiding the area for slaves, using the ports in Mozambique. A Civilization also sprang up in the Northern Regions of the Park. They built the Thulamela Stone Citadel, which was occupied from 1250 to 1700 AD. They extracted Iron Ore from up to; 200 mines, converting it into Iron for trade.
Archaeologists have recently excavated the tombs of an African king and queen who ruled here during the 16th Century. They named her Queen Losha - because she was buried with her hands placed under her cheeks in a position of great respect known as; 'losha', and him they named- King Ingwe - meaning leopard. This was because on the day his grave was found, a leopard was waiting as the excavating team returned to their vehicle.
The royal enclosure at Thulamela accommodated about a thousand people. Beyond the walled citadel, the hillsides are dotted with collapsed walls and signs of dwellings which indicate that up to 2 000 people may have lived here. There are also signs of lively trading. The people of Thulamela were skilled goldsmiths and their main currency was gold. This they traded, along with ivory, for glass beads and corn, with traders who came North of the Limpopo, from what is today Mozambique. There is also evidence of contact with people from West Africa.
During the 18th Century, the Baphalaborwa settled in present-day Phalaborwa. It is said that they originally came from the North and settled at Bushbuck Ridge. From there they moved to between the Letaba and Olifants Rivers. They called their Settlement Phalaborwa, meaning: 'better than the South'. Their main trade item was iron, which they smelted themselves.
A COMMENT FROM FACEBOOK in 2022- 
"Thulamela- A hauntingly beautiful ancient settlement in the far north of the Kruger, on the once-thriving ivory-gold-people trade route between the Swahili coast (vilankoulos/inhambane) and Mapungubwe. 
The start of a quest with Peter Delius and colleagues to discover some of the pre colonial trading routes and sites that enriched central Southern Africa from around 1000AD. 
The magnificence of this hilltop site, with breath taking views over the valley of baobabs and the Livuvhu River floodplain, has for years been hidden from the world by rules, regulations and inertia of the Kruger Park authorities. Until now. Arrangements are in place, finally, for trained guides from Kruger and Return Africa’s lodges in the area to take visitors to this breath taking site. A reason in itself to visit this end of the Park!"
Geolocation
-22° 54' 11.6796", 30° 1' 50.7115"

Sahara Desert, Between Western Egypt and Eastern Libya, in North Africa.

The World’s largest Desert – The Sahara – is comparatively well represented on the World Heritage Sites with four extensive sites featuring: Spectacular eroded sandstone massifs; Volcanic intrusions and Massive Sand-Dunes in Niger’s Air and Tenere Natural Reserves, as well as the extraordinary phenomenon of Chad’s Lakes of; Ounianga.

When you explore the luxuriously decorated tombs carved deep into the rocky Cliffs, you’ll be captivated by intricate hieroglyphics, vibrant paintings, and elaborate burial artifacts. "You have to remember that most of these artifacts have been extensively restored, to make them look new!".

There are long narrow defiles- (A defile is a narrow pass or gorge between Mountains or Hills.) just West of the Nile River, in Upper Egypt. It was part of the ancient City of Thebes and was the Burial Site of almost all the Kings (pharaohs) of the 18th,19th and 20th Centuries. These dynasties (1539–1075), from Thutmose I to Ramses X are found in the Hills behind Dayr al-Baḥrī. The Mummy Cache in Deir al-Baḥrī was rediscovered in 1875 and excavated over the next few Years by a French archaeologist Gaston Maspero, director of the Egyptian Antiquities Service. The mummies were removed to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, where Maspero unwrapped them!

"Each tomb tells a unique story of ancient Egyptian royalty and their journey to the afterlife." These provide a fascinating glimpse into their beliefs and rituals. The History of Egypt’s Valley of the Kings is a tapestry of ancient traditions and awe-inspiring achievements. Construction began around 1550 BCE during ancient Egypt’s New Kingdom Period. The pharaohs selected the Valley for its natural protective barriers and majestic surroundings.

Geolocation
22° 16' 30", -11° 35' 60"
References
https://www.touristegypt.com/about-the-valley-of-the-kings-egypt/ https://www.britannica.com/place/Valley-of-the-Kings
Further Reading
https://www.ecoticias.com/en/sahara-covered-with-solar-panels/7253/ https://www.touristegypt.com/about-the-valley-of-the-kings-egypt/ https://www.touristegypt.com/tours/cairo-aswan-luxor-8-day-tour-package/ https://www.africansahara.org/valley-kings-tomb-thutmosis-iii/ https://www.britannica.com/place/Dayr-al-Bahri https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/7290/gaston-maspero https://www.britannica.com/biography/Seti-I https://www.naturalworldheritagesites.org/sites/ennedi-massif/ https://geologybase.com/richat-structure-or-eye-of-the-sahara/ https://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/42070/sand-dunes-in-the-tenere-desert-niger https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gaston-Maspero https://www.museumwnf.org/partner.php?id=ET_03;eg&theme=AWE&tye=SH

Jagersfontein

Jagersfontein is home to one of the oldest and largest, diamond Mine holes in the World. This Town is located South-West of Bloemfontein. A 50-carat diamond was found on a Farm in 1870, which led to the establishment of the Town in 1882.

The Jagersfontein Mine was were, one of the first 'kimberlite pipes' was discovered in South Africa, (its discovery coinciding with the discovery of Bultfontein and Dutoitspan). This was discovered by JJ de Klerk, who at that time was the overseer of the Jagersfontein Farm. The second and eighth largest rough diamonds ever discovered in the World were taken from this mine. The 'Excelsior' of 995 carats (in 1893) and the 'Reitz' of 650 carats (in 1895 they were cut into the 'Jubilee Diamond')

. In 1870 the pit was hand-dug for 39 years until 1909. Due to the Great Depression, the Mine closed in the early 1930's and reopened in the late 1940's. Thereafter it remained in service until 1973, when the operation was finally shut down! For many Years, Mine workers migrated between the diamond Mines in Jagersfontein and the nearby Town of Koffiefontein. These Towns are now Home to many retired mine workers and their families.

Geolocation
-29° 46' 14.8466", 25° 26' 54.5082"
References
https://itumeleng-trust.org/jagersfontein-history/#:~:text=JAGERSFONTEIN%20is%20home%20to%20the,reopened%20in%20the%20late%201940s. https://www.britannica.com/place/Jagersfontein https://www.mouawad.com/en/diamond-diamond-gallery/jubilee