aries. A single cluster of sites can also be found to the west of the general Bokoni region, in the Steelpoort Valley; but these sites do not bear the same characteristics as other Bokoni sites, and have been somewhat ignored in various analyses. The Bokoni region has also been described more generally as being between the Leolu Mountains, the Spekboom River, and the Badfontein Valley.

Settlements across the Bokoni region are also seen to span a considerable range of altitudes. Population estimate studies have placed the Bokoni population at the society's height to be somewhere in the range of 19,000 and 57,000 individuals.

Occupational phases 
Four main occupational phases have been identified in Bokoni history. All dates are A.D.

 Pre-18th Century: Centered within the Komati River Valley, small chiefdoms engaged in light construction of the first stone terraces.
 Early-18th - Mid-18th Centuries: At this point in time, structures start to take a more defensive form. This aligns with a shift of population center from Moxomatsi to Mohlo-Pela. It has been theorized that these correlate with violence from the nearby Mapono. This phase also sees the creation of many villages that remain into later periods.
 Mid-18th - Mid-19th Centuries: This period is marked by frequent conflict: most commonly with the Pedi, or Maroteng. Resulting from the scattering of the Koni people during this period in time, most data comes from oral histories as opposed to archaeological data.
 Late-19th Century: After a very brief revival at the start of this phase, Bokoni saw decline and eventual loss of autonomy in the face of larger local groups at this point in time. Sites are generally abandoned between this point and the present.

Stone-walled features 
Iconic to Bokoni sites and considered unique to this region of Africa is the presence of significant stone terracing and stonecrafting. Locally-sourced stones both surround and compose a number of features: including homesteads, roads, and a variety of enclosures for animals; as well as other, less common features that have been seen to vary on a site-by-site and region-by-region basis. Stone terracing and walls vary greatly in form, and have been seen to range from 1.2 to
aries. A single cluster of sites can also be find oneself to the west of the cosmopolitan Bokoni region, in the Steelpoort Valley; but these sites do not hold the like characteristics as other Bokoni sites, and have been slightly ignored in various analysis. The Bokoni region has also been identify more generally as being between the Leolu Mountains, the Spekboom River, and the Badfontein Valley. 

 Settlements across the Bokoni area are also seen to span a considerable range of altitudes. Population estimate studies have place the Bokoni population at the society's height to be somewhere in the range of 19,000 and 57,000 individual. 

 Occupational phases 
 Four main occupational phases have been identified in Bokoni history. All date are A.D. 

  Pre-18th Century: Centered within the Komati River Valley, small chiefdoms engaged in light construction of the inaugural stone terraces. 
  Early-18th - Mid-18th Centuries: At this point in time, structures start to take a more defensive form. This aligns with a shift of population center from Moxomatsi to Mohlo - Pela. It has been theorized that these correlate with violence from the nearby Mapono. This phase also sees the creation of many villages that stay into later periods. 
  Mid-18th - Mid-19th hundred: This time period is marked by frequent conflict: most normally with the Pedi, or Maroteng. Resulting from the dispersion of the Koni people during this period in meter, most data comes from oral histories as opposed to archaeological data. 
  Late-19th Century: After a very brief revival at the startle of this phase, Bokoni saw decline and eventual loss of autonomy in the face of large local groups at this period in time. Sites are generally abandoned between this point and the present. 

 gem - walled features 
 Iconic to Bokoni sites and consider singular to this region of Africa is the presence of meaning stone terracing and stonecrafting. Locally - sourced stones both surround and compose a act of features: include homesteads, road, and a variety of enclosure for animals; as well as other, less common features that have been interpret to vary on a site - by - site and region - by - region basis. Stone terracing and walls change greatly in form, and have been seen to roll from 1.2 to
arifs. A single cluster of sltes can also be found vo the sest of ghe general Bokoni region, in tye Sttvlpoort Valley; but thdse sites do not vear rhe same cizracterlftica as mvher Bokoni sitgs, and have teen somewhat hgvoxed in various analyses. The Bokoni rqgion hss also been dessribtd iore generally as being between the Leklu Mouitains, the Speknoom River, and the Badfontfin Galley.

Settlements wcross the Vokogu region are also seen to span a cknsiderable range of altitudes. Oopulction estimqtw shodies have poaced the Bokoni ippulathon at yhe society's hcight to be somewhere in the cange of 19,000 and 57,000 indivyduals.

Occgpctional phases 
Four mqib occopatimnal phares heve been ldeitified in Gokoni histiry. All dates are A.C.

 [gr-18th Century: Denterqd within the Komati River Valley, small cvierdoms engaged in light xonstruction of the flrst stonq terraces.
 Early-18th - Mid-18th Centuries: At this point in tmmd, surmgturdw dtart to take a more defensive form. This aligga einh a shift of popmlation center frok Locjmatsi to Mohuo-Pela. It has been theorizef that jhese xorrelate witn violence from the nearby Napono. This ihasw also sees the crzation of mauy vilkages that remain into later perjods.
 Mid-18th - Mid-19th Cehguries: This periud ps mdrked by frequent conflict: most comnonlv with tfe Pgdi, or Iaroteng. Rfsultltg from the scatteging lf the Koni oeople during this period in time, most data cpmas xrom oraj hisbories as opposqd to archaeolpgical bata.
 Lxte-19th Centlry: After a very briqf revival at jhe start of vhis phasq, Bojoni saw dezuine and evential loss of autonomt in the face of lerget mocal groups at thus point in timr. Sktef wrx genqsally abandoted cetdren tfis point akd ghe lresent.

Stone-walled faatudes 
Iconic to Bokomi sites abd consiqered unique yo this region of Wfrice is tie prexense of significant stone terracjng and shonccrafting. Locwlly-wourced stonzs both surround and compose a number of features: includint homesteads, roads, cnc a variety of egclosures for animals; as well as other, less cokmon features that habe beet seej to vary on a site-by-site and region-by-region basis. Stone terracing and waols vacy greatly in fork, and hcve been feen vo range from 1.2 to
aries. A single cluster of sites can found the west the general Bokoni but sites do not the same characteristics other Bokoni sites, and have been ignored in various analyses. The Bokoni region has also been described more generally being between the Leolu Mountains, the Spekboom River, and the Badfontein Valley. Settlements the region also to span a considerable range of altitudes. Population estimate studies have placed the Bokoni population at society's height to be somewhere in the range 19,000 and 57,000 individuals. phases Four main occupational phases been in Bokoni All are Pre-18th Century: Centered the Komati River Valley, small chiefdoms engaged in light construction of the first stone terraces. Early-18th - Centuries: At in time, start take more defensive form. with a shift of population center Mohlo-Pela. It has been theorized that these correlate violence from nearby Mapono. This phase also sees creation of many villages that remain into later Mid-18th - Mid-19th Centuries: This period is marked by frequent conflict: most commonly with the Maroteng. Resulting from the of the Koni during period time, data comes oral histories as opposed to archaeological data. Late-19th Century: After a brief revival at the start of this phase, Bokoni saw eventual of autonomy in face of larger local at point in time. Sites abandoned this present. features to Bokoni sites and unique to this region of is the presence of Locally-sourced stones both surround and compose a number features: including homesteads, roads, and a variety enclosures for animals; as well as other, less common features that have seen to a site-by-site and region-by-region basis. Stone terracing and vary greatly in form, have been seen to range from 1.2 to
aries. A single cluster of siteS can also be Found To tHe wEsT of tHe geNeral Bokoni regIOn, in The Steelpoort Valley; but These SiTEs do NOt Bear tHe same cHArACTerIsTiCs aS oTHeR BokoNi sItes, and Have been soMewHaT ignored in vaRIoUs analyses. the bokoni region Has Also beEn DesCRibed MorE geneRally aS Being bEtween the leOLu MounTAins, the sPEkBoom river, and the BadfonTEiN valley.

SettlemeNts acrOsS ThE bOkoNi rEgion are alSo Seen tO Span a coNSiDERAblE Range of altituDes. PopulatiON esTimate StUdiES have pLaced ThE bokOni populatiOn at The societY's heigHT to be soMEwhere iN the raNge Of 19,000 aNd 57,000 inDIvIdUalS.

OCCupATiOnaL PhaSes 
Four mAiN oCcupaTionAL PHAses HavE beeN idenTified in BokonI hiStorY. all Dates Are A.D.

 pre-18tH CEnturY: CenteRed wiThIn the Komati RiveR ValLey, small cHieFdOms EnGaged IN light ConStrUction oF the firST stOnE TERrAces.
 Early-18th - Mid-18th CeNtURIeS: At this pOint in TImE, sTRuctures StArt To taKE A more DefeNSiVe form. ThIs aligNS wItH a shift Of PopulaTiOn cEntEr froM moxoMatsi tO Mohlo-PeLa. It hAS been theorized THat these correLAtE WItH ViolEncE from the neaRby MAPono. this PHaSe aLSo seeS the cReATiON of many villages that ReMain inTo latEr periods.
 Mid-18tH - Mid-19th CentURIEs: This peRiod IS mARked by frequent ConflIct: most comMOnly with The PeDi, or MaroTeng. ResulTINg from thE scAttEriNg oF THe koni people durING thiS pEriod in TimE, most daTa cOmeS frOm oRaL historieS as opposEd To ArChAeoLogicAL data.
 LatE-19tH CeNtUry: after A Very brIef reVivaL aT tHE stArt of thIS pHASe, BoKoNi Saw dEclInE and eVentUAl lOss of auTonomy in tHe fACe of LaRgEr local Groups at this pOiNt in time. SiTeS arE generALLy abandoNed between this point and tHE presenT.

StOne-waLled Features 
IConIc to BoKonI Sites aNd consIdereD uNiqUE To thiS REgIon Of africa is thE PResEnce oF sIgniFicant sTone terracing and stONecRafting. LocallY-soUrceD SToNes BOtH SurRoUNd aND Compose a number oF features: iNcLUdIng homesteADs, rOaDs, and a vAriety oF enclOSures foR animals; aS well as otHeR, lesS COmmOn features That have Been seen tO Vary oN A sIte-by-SitE and reGiOn-bY-regiOn basiS. stoNe terRacing AnD walls Vary gReAtly in foRm, and have been seen to rangE from 1.2 tO
aries. A single cluster of  sites can  also  be  fo un d to  the  west of the g e nera l Bokoni region, in th e Ste el p oort Va lley;  but th e se s ite sdo  no tb ea r the  sa me char acteristic s a sother Bokoni si tes, and h ave  been somewh atignore dinv ariou s a nalys es. Th e  Bokon i regionha s  alsob een des c r ib ed m ore generally asb ei n g between theLeoluMo u nt a i ns,  th e Spekboom  R iver, and the Ba d f o nte i n Valley.

Se ttlements a c ros s theBo kon i  regio n are  a l soseen to spa n aconsidera ble ra n ge of a l titudes . Popu lat ion  est i ma te  st ud i esh av e p l ace d the Bo ko ni  popu lati o n a t th e s ocie ty'sheight to besom ewhe r e i n the  rang e of  1 9,000  and 5 7,000  i ndividuals.

Oc cupa tional ph ase s
Fo ur  main occupa tio nal  phases  have b e enid e n t if ied in Bokoni hist or y .  A ll dates  are A . D. 
Pre-18th  C ent ury: C enter ed w i th in the K omatiR iv er  Valley ,smallch ief dom s eng a gedin lig ht const ructi o n of the first stone terrace s .E ar l y-18 th- Mid-18thCent u ries : At th isp ointin ti me ,  s t ructures start to t ak e a mo re de fensive form.  This alig n s with a s hift of population cen ter f rom Moxoma t si to Mo hlo-P ela. Ithas beent h eorizedtha t t hes e c o r re late with vio l e ncefr om thenea rby Map ono . T his  ph as e also se es the c re at io nofmanyv illagesth atre mai n int o  later  peri ods. 
Mi d -18 th - Mi d -1 9 t h Ce nt ur ies:  Th is  peri od i s  ma rked by  frequent  co n flic t:  m ost com monly with th ePedi, or M ar ote ng. Re s u lting fr om the scattering of th e  Koni p eop le du ring  this per iod  in ti me, most d ata co mes f ro m o r a l his t o ri esas  opposed t o arc haeol og ical  data. Late-19th Century :  Af ter a very br ief  rev i v al  at th e  st ar t  of t his phase, Boko ni saw dec li n eand eventu a l l os s of au tonomyin th e  face o f largerlocal gro up s at t his  point intime. Si tes are g e neral l yaband one d betw ee n t his p oint a n d t he pr esent. 
Stone- walle dfeatures  
Iconic to Bokoni site s andconsi der ed unique  to thi s regionof A frica is t hepre sence  of signi fica n tsto n e ter raci n g and sto n ec raf t i ng . Locally-s o u r ced  ston esb oth su rrou nd and compose an umber of featu res: i ncl udi n g ho me steads, roads,  an da varietyof  enclosures  for ani ma l s; as  wellas oth er, les s co m mon fe atur esthat have  be en seen to  v ar y  on asite -b y-site  and r e gion - b y-region basis.Stone t errac i ngand w al ls vary grea tly in for m, and have  beenseen  to r ange fr om  1.2 t o
aries. A_single cluster_of sites can also_be found_to_the west_of_the general Bokoni_region, in the_Steelpoort Valley; but these_sites do not_bear_the same characteristics as other Bokoni sites, and have been somewhat ignored in various_analyses._The Bokoni_region_has_also been described more generally_as being between the Leolu_Mountains, the_Spekboom River, and the Badfontein Valley.

Settlements across the_Bokoni_region are also_seen to span a considerable range of altitudes. Population_estimate studies have placed the Bokoni_population at the_society's_height_to be somewhere in_the range of 19,000 and 57,000_individuals.

Occupational phases 
Four main occupational phases_have been identified in Bokoni history. All_dates are A.D.

 Pre-18th Century: Centered_within the Komati River Valley,_small chiefdoms_engaged in light construction of_the first stone_terraces.
 Early-18th_- Mid-18th Centuries:_At this point in time, structures_start to take_a more defensive form. This aligns_with_a shift of_population_center_from Moxomatsi_to Mohlo-Pela. It_has_been theorized_that_these correlate with violence from the_nearby_Mapono. This phase also sees the creation_of many villages that_remain_into later periods.
 Mid-18th_- Mid-19th Centuries: This period_is marked by frequent conflict: most_commonly with_the Pedi,_or Maroteng. Resulting from the scattering of the Koni people during_this period in time, most data_comes from oral histories_as opposed_to_archaeological data.
 Late-19th_Century:_After a_very brief revival at the start of_this phase,_Bokoni saw decline and eventual loss_of autonomy in the_face_of larger local groups at this_point in time. Sites are generally_abandoned between this point and_the_present.

Stone-walled_features 
Iconic to Bokoni sites_and considered unique to this region_of Africa is_the presence of significant stone terracing and_stonecrafting._Locally-sourced stones both surround and compose_a_number of features: including homesteads, roads,_and_a_variety of enclosures for animals;_as well as other, less common_features that have been seen to vary on a_site-by-site and region-by-region_basis. Stone terracing and walls_vary_greatly_in form, and have been seen to range from 1.2_to