The wounded lion: a geospatial analysis of the British defeat by the Zulu at Isandlwana, South Africa (22 January 1879)

This joint research project, conducted by the University of Padua (DiSSGEA) and the University of South Africa’s Department of Geography (Pretoria), centers on the pivotal Battle of Isandlwana (1879). The primary scientific goal is to understand and quantify the influence of the geomorphological context on military mobilities, the spatial dynamics and ultimate outcome of the battle, integrating historical analysis with advanced geospatial data.

The program employs a multidisciplinary methodology that combines historical-archival research, on-site geomorphological surveys, high-resolution data acquisition via drones (orthophotos, DTM), and geomagnetic investigations to identify subsurface anomalies. All collected data will be processed and integrated within a GIS environment. Beyond its scientific aims, this project holds significant strategic importance, presenting a concrete opportunity to establish a lasting and fruitful relationship between the University of Padua and the University of South Africa, laying the groundwork for future academic agreements.

Key scientific objectives

The project aims to achieve the following primary scientific objectives:

• to analyze and quantify how the specific geomorphological features of the Isandlwana site (slopes, landforms, hydrography, surface lithology) conditioned the tactical choices, troop movements, lines of sight, and the final result of the battle.
• to integrate historical sources with high-resolution geospatial data to produce a more accurate, georeferenced reconstruction of the phases, deployments, and key events of the battle within its physical context.
• to use non-invasive geophysical methods (magnetometry) to locate and characterize anomalies indicative of archaeological remains related to the battle (metal artifacts, possible structures, burial areas) and to interpret this evidence within its historical and environmental framework.
• to test and refine a multidisciplinary methodological approach that effectively combines historical analysis, geomorphology, remote sensing, and geophysics for the complex study of battlefield landscapes.
• to provide a more holistic understanding of the battle by fully embedding it in its physical and environmental context, assessing the interactions between military events and landscape features.

Expected outcomes & verifiable deliverables

The project is set to produce a range of concrete deliverables:

• detailed geomorphological cartography of the Isandlwana site.
• georeferenced historical-military cartography illustrating the battle’s progression within the terrain’s context.
• high-resolution 3D terrain models and orthomosaics derived from drone surveys.
• maps of geomagnetic anomalies that potentially indicate archaeological remains.
• an integrated geospatial database (GIS).
• scientific publications in international journals and presentations at academic conferences.