Stone Walls
Visualisation showing 3D models of stone wall enclosures in Seoke created by Brenda Maina.
[1] -Dwelling enclosure with a wide entrance
[2] - Livestock enclosure with a narrow entrance
Map showing stonewalling in Seoke created by Brenda Maina using ArcGIS
From 1600 to 1650 CE, Tswana-speaking communities began to develop stonewalling, which was an architectural practice that continued into the early 19th century. The stone wall sites of Seoke is the remnant of one of the first major early capitals for the Bangwaketse, who are believed to have inhabited the site sometime in the early to mid-1700s.
The view from the Central cluster offers a panorama of an extensive valley, where many stone wall enclosures are found. Seoke spans an area of approximately 14.5 square kilometres and consists of over 1180 individual stone wall segments.
The stone walls served multiple uses. Some stone walls served as enclosures for dwellings, while others served as kraals (pens) for livestock. These livestock kraals were identified based on the livestock dung remains found inside them.