Thulamela Ruins

Meaning that which grows out of a mountain, Thulamela ruins is located within northern Kruger, 2 kilometres south west of Pafuri. Research on this stone walled site began in 1992, after which in 1996 the discovery of the remains of a 16th century Balembethu royal couple brought to life the history of the ruins.

Graves offer information about individuals of the past by reflecting belief systems from the burial itself, technology from the grave objects and from the bones diet, health, stature, sex and age.

he first skeleton was that of a female and dates to around AD 1600. The person was aged between 45 -60 years and was + 1.73m tall. The roughly oval shaped grave had been dug through a hut in the wives area and the person was laid on her side.

The second skeleton was that of a male which dated to around AD 1450, which could suggest that the person never lived at Thulamela. The skeleton was also broken and packed in a square shape, suggesting that the person did not die on the site.