This dissertation examines the relationship between pottery style and social identity among Early Iron Age communities in southern Africa, offering an alternative and novel framework for interpreting stylistic variation. While effective in mapping large-scale cultural patterns, traditional analytical methods are limited in their ability to capture smaller-scale social dynamics. This research combines design symmetry analysis with Bayesian modelling, introducing a temporal approach emphasizing continuity and gradual change over rigid, periodized phases. Through this approach, the study demonstrates that pottery style is not simply a static marker of cultural identity but a dynamic expression of social relationships, environmental factors, and shifting design networks. By interpreting ceramic design within broader assemblages, this dissertation shows how pottery reflects the intricate processes of community interactions, learning networks, and identity formation across multiple scales. The findings suggest that “design networks,” rather than fixed cultural groups, shaped regional stylistic patterns and that pottery served as a medium for stability and transformation within these communities. This new framework expands the potential for archaeological analysis to explore social identities beyond language groups, contributing to a deeper understanding of how early farming societies in southern Africa engaged with and adapted their material culture over time.