Toutswe

Toutswe was an ancient site in eastern Botswana that emerged around the 7th century CE. It represents a significant shift in Southern African history, marked by new ceramic traditions, technologies, and social structures. Archaeological evidence suggests Toutswe was a large, well-defended hilltop capital, likely overseeing smaller sites across a wide region. The site's extensive cattle herds indicate that animal husbandry played a crucial role in its economy and social organization, potentially driving social change and territorial expansion. Toutswe's material culture shows similarities to later sites in the Limpopo valley and Zimbabwe, suggesting it may have influenced new forms of social and economic organization in the wider region.1