Hut at uMgungundlovu, South Africa

3D Model

uMgungundlovu was the royal capital of the Zulu king Dingane (1828–1840) and one of several military complexes which he maintained. The complex contained roughly 1500 huts, all of which were burned down. However, several of these traditional have been reconstructed on the uMgungundlovu site.

The traditional beehive huts are known as iQukwane. Men collected the outer sticks and placed them in a circle on the ground. The women bound and thatched the structure using braided split reeds and grass. A central tree trunk acted as a support and the door was made low so that any foe has to stoop before entering. Dung and termite mound was spread to form the floor which set and polished. The same material is used to form a raised hearth near the central pole.

Click on the link to view a virtual tour of the site http://www.actheritage.org/emakhosini-virtual-tour/