Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia - free ebook by R. N. (Richard Nicklin) Hall

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Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia

R. N. (Richard Nicklin) Hall

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LIST OF DIAGRAMS AND PLANS IN THE TEXT

LIST OF DIAGRAMS AND PLANS IN THE TEXT

IN preparing this detailed description of the ruins of Great Zimbabwe—the first given to the world in modern times—the author has aimed at permitting the actual ruins themselves to relate their own story of their forgotten past unweighted by any consideration of the many traditions, romances, and theories which—especially during the last decade—have been woven concerning these monuments. The only apology offered for this apparently lengthy Preface is the mention of the fact that the operations a

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RUINS’ AREA

RUINS’ AREA

The recent examination of the district surrounding the ruins now shows the Ruins’ Area to be far larger than either Mr. Theodore Bent (1891) or Sir John Willoughby (1892) supposed. Instead of the area being confined to 945 yds. by 840 yds., it is now known to be at least 2 miles by 1¼ miles, and even this larger limit is by no means final, as traces of walls and of walls buried several feet under the veld have been discovered, not only in Zimbabwe Valley, but in the secluded valleys and gorges a

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BURIAL-PLACES OF THE OLD COLONISTS

BURIAL-PLACES OF THE OLD COLONISTS

The secluded valleys, and also the caves in hills, for a distance of six miles, and in some cases as far as ten miles, from Zimbabwe have been systematically searched in the hope of discovering the burial place of the old gold-seekers. The neighbourhood of Zimbabwe contains several extensive ranges of granite hills each enclosing many secluded and Sinbad-like valleys and gorges, where natives state white men had never previously entered. Such spots on the whole of the Beroma Hills to the east of

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ABSENCE OF INSCRIPTIONS

ABSENCE OF INSCRIPTIONS

No ancient writing has been discovered, though close attention has been paid to all stones and pottery likely to bear it, and notwithstanding that the interiors of some of the more ancient portions of the ruins have been cleared down to the old floors where, if any existed, they might reasonably have been expected to be found. Post-Koranic lettering was found on highly glazed pottery, also on glass, but all such specimens are of a fragmentary character; but experts such as Mr. Wallace Budge, the

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TWO PERIODS OF GOLD MANUFACTURE

TWO PERIODS OF GOLD MANUFACTURE

Gold in a manufactured form is found on the lowest and original floors of the most ancient portions of the Zimbabwe ruins. In several ruins this was found as thickly strewn about the cement floors as nails in a carpenter’s shop. Gold ornaments discovered at this depth, in some instances from 3 ft. to 5 ft. below any known native floors, were always found in association with the oldest form of relics yet unearthed at Zimbabwe. Such gold articles are of most delicate make, and are doubtless of an

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NORTH ENTRANCE

NORTH ENTRANCE

In 1902 the floor of the North Entrance to the temple was exposed to a depth of 5 ft. below the surface, as shown in Mr. Bent’s book (p. 106), while a flight of steps in perfect condition leading up to the entrance from the exterior was discovered at a depth of 9 ft. below the old surface. This entrance, showing a bold conception and admirable construction, is now considered as one of the principal show features at Zimbabwe. Further, it is the oldest form of entrance and steps as well as the fin

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PARALLEL PASSAGE

PARALLEL PASSAGE

This has been cleared throughout to a depth of at least 3 ft., and in one place 7 ft. Cement floors were exposed, and these were found to be divided into small catchment areas with a drain from each passing outwards through the main wall. Five additional drains were discovered in this passage. Here were found eight ornate phalli, a portion of a gold bangle, some beaten gold and gold tacks of microscopic size, and fragments of carved soapstone beams....

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SACRED ENCLOSURE

SACRED ENCLOSURE

This was cleared out to a depth of 4 ft. throughout its whole area, and a few phalli of unmistakable form were found, and old granite cement floors and steps were uncovered. Explorers and relic hunters had worked in this enclosure, and had double trenched it from end to end. A remarkable discovery was made here of distinct traces of granite cement dadoes, 7 ft. high, round the interior faces of the walls of this enclosure. In some other enclosures the remains of dadoes can still be seen. The sma

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PLATFORM AREA

PLATFORM AREA

This open area, lying to the west and north of the Conical Tower and the Platform, corresponds to the open areas immediately in front of the altars in old Grecian temples. This was Mr. Bent’s opinion, and possibly it answered at Zimbabwe a similar purpose of accommodating the worshippers. The area, some 120 ft. by 60 ft., has been cleared out of large trees, and of about 6 ft. of soil throughout, and floors—both cement and clay—were disclosed, also a fine circular structure of excellent granite

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ENCLOSURES 6, 7, AND 10

ENCLOSURES 6, 7, AND 10

Gold-smelting operations must have, at some late period, been extensively carried on in these enclosures, for on removing from each enclosure all débris and fallen stones to a depth of from 4 ft. to 7 ft., there were found burnishing stones of fine grain and still covered with gold, gold scorifiers with gold in the flux, cakes of gold, gold furnace slag, beaten gold, and gold dust. At a still lower depth in No. 6 Enclosure a quantity of granite clay crucibles, showing gold richly, were met with,

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CENTRAL AREA

CENTRAL AREA

This area is only partially excavated, it being covered with old native-built walls which cross over bone and ash débris, old native huts, an iron furnace, and rich black mould in which the vegetable matter was still undecayed. Experimental holes and boring-rods showed that some very old foundations ran below the soil upon which the later and poorer walls are built. However, a key has now been found which will enable further excavations to be made within this area without injury to the upper wal

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SUMMIT OF MAIN EAST WALL

SUMMIT OF MAIN EAST WALL

Along the summit of the east main wall, and only over the chevron pattern which faces east, have recently been discovered the traces of foundations of small circular towers, both on the inner and outer edges of the wall. These correspond in measurement and relative position to the small conical towers on the west wall of the Western Temple at the Acropolis Ruins, which is decorated with monoliths. Some of the best-known surveyors and practical builders in Rhodesia are prepared to certify as to t

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PROBABLE AGES OF THE WALLS OF THE ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

PROBABLE AGES OF THE WALLS OF THE ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

All the walls of the Elliptical Temple are not ancient; that is, not ancient in the sense applying to the suggested Sabæo-Arabian occupation of Rhodesia and also to that of the Solomonic gold period. The evidences pointing to this conclusion, and now for the first time available, are so obvious and general, and the ocular demonstration so positive, that one of the many popular myths concerning Great Zimbabwe must, even at the risk of committing a vandalism on cherished romantic theories and beli

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WEST WALL CONTROVERSY

WEST WALL CONTROVERSY

The writer is fully convinced that the original west wall of the temple once extended outwards further west, and that the present west wall extending towards the south is of much more recent construction and is built on a shorter curve, also that most of the structures of the central and western portions of the building are also of much later construction , and this for many substantial reasons, some of which are here briefly stated:— ( a ) The west wall is considered by all practical builders a

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WRITER’S CONCLUSIONS

WRITER’S CONCLUSIONS

The writer is now and for the above and further considerations, and after two years’ residence within the ruins, perfectly convinced of the following:— (1) That on the departure of the ancient builders and occupiers the temple became a ruin, and remained as such for some centuries, the west wall disappearing in the meantime (as explained later); (2) that some organised Arab people, possibly a split of the numerous Arab colonies and kingdoms which existed down the East African coast, possibly of

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DESTRUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL WEST WALL

DESTRUCTION OF THE ORIGINAL WEST WALL

It may be asked what caused the destruction of the original west wall. Its disappearance may be accounted for as follows. The south and west walls have for centuries borne the full brunt of all the torrential rain and storm water which rushes to these points from the Bentberg Kopjes, which lie close to the temple on the south side. This accounts for the great depth of silted soil which buries the old cement flooring. This must have washed the lower portions of the walls till the cement foundatio

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WESTERN TEMPLE

WESTERN TEMPLE

Operations in this temple since the description of the earlier work was embodied in the text of this volume have been carried on to June, 1904. Soil to a depth of from 3 ft. to 5 ft. was removed from the whole of the eastern portion of this area. The excavations showed several layers of native clay floors one above another. The “finds” were those known to be of native origin, though not made by natives of to-day. The later or native period of gold manufacture was greatly in evidence, beaten gold

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A ZIMBABWE REVIVAL

A ZIMBABWE REVIVAL

The writer believes that between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, or slightly earlier, a great influx of people took place at Zimbabwe, and that the majority of the minor ruins in the Valley of Ruins were built about this period. This is shown by the number of walls built across exceedingly old débris heaps of native origin, by the “finds” of Arabian articles on their lowest floors, and by the fact that no relic of greater age than that period has been found. Two or three of the better-bu

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PRESERVATION OF RUINS

PRESERVATION OF RUINS

The thanks of all scientific circles, and of South Africans generally, are due to Sir W. H. Milton, Administrator of Rhodesia, whose great interest in the preservation of the ancient monuments in these territories is well known, and to whose direction is due the recent and timely preservation work at Great Zimbabwe. The author desires to express his personal indebtedness to Sir William Milton for the adequate arrangements made by him while engaged in his recent researches at the Great Zimbabwe..

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PLAN OF ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

PLAN OF ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

The clearing of the Elliptical Temple and its vicinity has enabled Mr. Franklin White, m.e. , Bulawayo, to prepare the latest and so far the most perfect plan of that building, and this he has kindly placed at the service of the author. Indebtedness is also expressed to Professor A. H. Keane, ll.d. (author of The Gold of Ophir ), for the contribution of the Introduction to this volume; to Mrs. Theodore Bent for generously permitting the use in this volume of illustrations from The Ruined Cities

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INTRODUCTION BY A. H. KEANE, LL.D.

INTRODUCTION BY A. H. KEANE, LL.D.

AN archæological work of absorbing interest, such as the volume here presented to the reader, needs no introduction. Nor are the following remarks meant to be taken in that sense, but only as a sort of “missing link” in the chain of evidence between past and present, between the Arabian Himyarites and the Rhodesian monuments, the forging of which the author has entrusted to me. In The Ancient Ruins of Rhodesia , of which Great Zimbabwe is the inevitable outcome, Messrs. Hall and Neal did not dis

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CHAPTER I ARRIVAL AT GREAT ZIMBABWE

CHAPTER I ARRIVAL AT GREAT ZIMBABWE

ON the 21st May, 1902, I arrived at Victoria in Mashonaland, en route to the ruins of the Great Zimbabwe, which lie about seventeen miles south-east of the township. In 1891, when the late Mr. Theodore Bent visited Zimbabwe, he occupied exactly one week in covering the distance between Victoria and the ruins. Unfortunately for him and his party, he had been advised to follow the Moshagashi Valley, instead of taking the higher ground towards the west, and consequently he experienced great difficu

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MIDNIGHT IN AN ANCIENT TEMPLE

MIDNIGHT IN AN ANCIENT TEMPLE

It was the night of the full moon nearest to Midsummer Day in the Southern Hemisphere, and towards midnight the large population of Makalanga round Zimbabwe would be celebrating the feast of the full moon with dancing, singing, and doro drinking. This was evidently a special feast, for its advent had been the theme of conversation among our labourers for the past fortnight, and, unlike the other feasts, it was held simultaneously in each kraal, and not at different kraals in turn on alternate oc

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THE ACROPOLIS AT SUNSET

THE ACROPOLIS AT SUNSET

In the soft sunlight of a glorious late afternoon, when calm broods over all and a profound solitude invests the immense panorama of valley, mountain, and sea of jagged kopje ranges as beheld from the summit of the Acropolis Hill some 300 ft. at least above the Zimbabwe Valley, one views a scene of indescribable loveliness. The sharp-cut ranges of hills, deep gorges flanked by cliffs, great crags of rock, and the long and broad Moshagashi Valley with its scattered kraals and patches of native pl

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CHAPTER III A DAY AT HAVILAH CAMP, ZIMBABWE

CHAPTER III A DAY AT HAVILAH CAMP, ZIMBABWE

EARLY to bed, our Makalanga labourers are proportionately early to rise, and as soon as there is sufficient light to enable them to see they are up, stretching their limbs, waking the echoes of the valley with their noisy yawnings, which jar on the lilt of the dawn-anthems of the birds, and sit crouching round fires with their blankets over their shoulders. The sun will soon be coming up behind the blue Beroma Range, just over the romantically shaped rocks at Chenga’s kraal. The peaks of the ran

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CHIPO-POPO[25] FALLS

CHIPO-POPO[25] FALLS

THESE are about two miles and a half north-east of Zimbabwe, on the Motelekwe Road. The Chipo-popo, which is a perennial stream with its source on the south side of the Beroma Range, crosses the road and runs towards the Moshagashi River, which it joins four miles lower down. Immediately to the north of the drift (ford) the stream descends abruptly down granite ledges into a deep ravine, on the east side of which is Chipo-popo kraal. The falls are reached by leaving the road at thirty yards on t

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FROND GLEN

FROND GLEN

This is a very pretty, secluded, and sheltered spot in a deep ravine about half a mile east of the South-East Ruins. A stream from the valley, which extends eastwards from the Elliptical Temple, passes through it in a south-easterly direction. On the banks of this ravine are to be found tree-ferns, palms, royal ferns ( osmunda regalis ), and maiden-hair ferns. The scenery and atmosphere of this glen are said to be somewhat similar to those of some tracts on the southern slopes of the Himalayas.

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LUMBO ROCKS

LUMBO ROCKS

These strikingly picturesque cliffs, which form a prominent landmark for miles around, are a little over two miles south of the Elliptical Temple, and are approached by the native path leading from Zimbabwe to the Morgenster Mission. These granite crags rise perpendicularly for about a hundred feet from out of the summit of a rocky kopje, and form a rude square-sided column of precipice, which is divided into four portions by very narrow fissures, which run through it on all four sides from base

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MORGENSTER (“MORNING STAR”) MISSION

MORGENSTER (“MORNING STAR”) MISSION

One of the prettiest walks from Zimbabwe is to this mission station, which is barely three and a half miles distant in a south-south-westerly direction. The path passes between the Elliptical Temple and the Bentberg . About two miles along the path and close to the right-hand side is Baranazimba’s old kraal perched up high among the boulders of a kopje. The path then crosses a nek between Baranazimba’s and the Lumbo Rocks , and descends into a narrow valley and up a high ridge, on which, cutting

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WUWULI

WUWULI

This village, which is two miles south of Mor genster, is situated in a deep and narrow ravine immediately west of the Rugutsi Kopje, which forms such a prominent feature in the landscape of the Mowishawasha Valley, as seen from the mission. Formerly this place was of considerable importance to the local Makalanga, for during the times of the Matabele raids the natives between this place and Zimbabwe took refuge in the very extensive caves which run under the north side of the ravine. A strong p

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MOJEJÈJE, OR “MYSTIC BAR”

MOJEJÈJE, OR “MYSTIC BAR”

There are two of these mystic bars at Zimbabwe, one being on the Motelekwe Road, a quarter of a mile east from Havilah camp and opposite Middle Kopje ( Chamananga ), and the other about a mile from Zimbabwe, on the path to Bingura’s. The one on the Motelekwe Road is formed by a bar of aphite crossing a granite glacis, over which the road passes, but the one on Bingura’s Path is an arbitrary line drawn across a piece of granite, over which the path crosses. Each bar is at right angles to the path

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SUKU DINGLE

SUKU DINGLE

This is situated but a few yards from the left-hand side of the lower path leading from Zimbabwe to Morgenster, and is about 400 yds. north-east of Lumbo Rocks , about two miles from Zimbabwe. The dingle runs east and west, and is deeply wooded and narrow. This is a good spot for fern collectors. Down the dingle runs a happy little stream in perennial flow. The stream’s bed is formed of white clay. The sides of the banks have been trenched extensively for a perfectly white soil. This is used by

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BINGURA’S[26] KRAAL

BINGURA’S[26] KRAAL

This kraal, which is situated two and a half miles west-south-west of Zimbabwe, is well worth a visit, the walk itself being interesting and the situation of the kraal romantic. Possessors of cameras will find at this kraal ample opportunities of making “shots” at native life, as well as of taking typical views of the Zimbabwe scenery. The path to Bingura’s crosses the valley lying between Havilah Camp and Rusivanga, and then leads up through native plantations to the broad nek on the horizon be

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MOTUMI’S KRAAL

MOTUMI’S KRAAL

This kraal is about one mile west of Bingura’s, and is situate in open country and is worth visiting. Motumi is a very good specimen of a Barotse headman. He is fully seventy years of age, but is still hale, hearty, and straight. The features of the people at this kraal are very fine, and most of the men and boys are well-made. They are a very industrious people and never seem to be idling in their kraal. Motumi is above the average native in intelligence and can give an account of what is now M

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CHIBFUKO

CHIBFUKO

This hill adjoins the Mowishawasha Hill, which is about seven miles west-south-west of Zimbabwe. Washa is always associated in the mind of the natives with power and authority. Chibfuko is never ascended by the natives. Either the hill itself, or something on it, causes them to revere or dread it. They never pass by without kneeling and clapping hands to it. It is said that they hear girls singing on its summit. The hill has a few caves highly suggestive in appearance of ancients and hidden reli

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CHIPADZI’S KRAAL

CHIPADZI’S KRAAL

This kraal is three miles south from Zimbabwe, and it may be visited on the same round as Suku Glen, Lumbo Rocks, and Morgenster. The walk is an interesting one, but there is nothing of note in the kraal itself, save the view of the Mapudzi Valley which it overlooks. The Morgenster path must be taken for 1,000 yds. south of the temple, where a well-defined native path branches off to the south-east. Later the path descends into a long, narrow valley till it approaches the kraal. The scenery in t

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MAPAKU, OR “LITTLE ZIMBABWE”

MAPAKU, OR “LITTLE ZIMBABWE”

A walk to these ruins is one of the most interesting in the vicinity of the Zimbabwe. They lie south-east of Zimbabwe at a distance of less than eight miles, and the path runs through the romantic scenery of the Beroma Hills and the Motelekwe Valley. The best way to reach the ruins is through Chenga’s kraal, past Mandiara’s, which overlooks the lower country on the south side of the Beroma Range, and past the picturesquely situated kraal of Mapaku, which is at the foot of a tall cliff a quarter

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SCHLICHTER GORGE

SCHLICHTER GORGE

This is the ravine a mile to the south -west of Zimbabwe, down which flows the Mapudzi stream southwards. The walk in certain parts is somewhat rough, while in the rainy season owing to swollen tributaries and dense jungles of tall reeds it is almost inaccessible. To approach it one takes the path down the valley at the south foot of East Ruins, and directly east of Maund Ruins, and follows a small stream, the banks of which are shaded by trees and covered with royal fern. In the dry season ther

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CHICAGOMBONI HILL (NINI DISTRICT)

CHICAGOMBONI HILL (NINI DISTRICT)

This is where the rediscoverer of the Great Zimbabwe ruins, Adam Renders, a German-American, lived from 1868 to 1871. Renders was known to the natives as “Sa-adama,” and to this day the Makalanga speak well of him, and are particularly anxious that all Europeans should know that everything which “Sa-adama” bought from them he always paid for. Mogoma, an old man of exceptional intelligence, is the native chief in this locality, and knew Renders intimately, as the latter lived in his village and m

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A JAUNT ALONG THE ZIMBABWE AND MOTELEKWE ANCIENT ROAD

A JAUNT ALONG THE ZIMBABWE AND MOTELEKWE ANCIENT ROAD

One often wondered along what part of the country on the south or east of Great Zimbabwe lay the ancient road from the coast to this old-world metropolitan centre. Several suggestions more or less possible have been made since the preoccupation days as to the ancient road. That the ruins at Mapaku (the caves), seven miles distant towards the south-east, formed one of the posting stations on such a road may be considered as highly probable. Visitors have generally favoured the conjecture that the

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SOME OF THE DENIZENS OF THE ZIMBABWE DISTRICT

SOME OF THE DENIZENS OF THE ZIMBABWE DISTRICT

These are most numerous in the Elliptical Temple when the size of its area is considered, for this building abounds in bird, animal, reptile, insect, and plant life. Protected by high walls all round, it provides an area free from the disturbing effects of grass fires, sheltered from cold winds, and full of rank tropical vegetation and jungle. Here the gorgeous lapis-lazuli and turquoise blue of the jays and the brilliant scarlet and rich metallic green of the honey-sucker flash brightly in keen

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1. NATIVES AND RUINS

1. NATIVES AND RUINS

IT may easily be imagined that researches as to the origin of the ruins cannot be furthered by inquiries instituted among the present native peoples as to any history or tradition concerning these structures. The chief value, however, of such inquiries is that they enable us to realise in what conditions both the ruins and the district have existed during the last few centuries. But such inquiries only take us back to a period of two hundred years short of that time when Portuguese writers refer

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2. LOCAL NATIVES (GENERAL)

2. LOCAL NATIVES (GENERAL)

The Zimbabwe district is very thickly populated by Makalanga. These formerly lived in natural strongholds on the summits of rocky kopjes difficult of approach, but now in almost every instance they have removed their kraals from their almost inaccessible eyries, and have built their villages on open country, without erecting any fences whatsoever for their protection. Thus, locally, Mogabe has left his hill fortress and caves, Baranazimba his strongly defended rocks, Lumbo his rock-pillar, and n

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1. SOAPSTONE ARTICLES

1. SOAPSTONE ARTICLES

SIR JOHN LUBBOCK once observed that one antiquarian relic found by itself was no testimony as to any particular ancient occupation of the spot at which it was discovered, but that the discovery of many identical relics in one place, and under identical conditions, might be considered as evidence of such occupation. Single specimens are known to have been transported from one hemisphere to another during the course of three or four thousand years. At Great Zimbabwe it is not, except in a few inst

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2. GOLD ARTICLES[35]

2. GOLD ARTICLES[35]

Gold in almost every form has been found in quantities on several of the lower floors of the ruins, and from its locations must have been produced and worked, not only by ancients, but by very old Kafir people, possibly under Moslem Arab supervision, for concave fragments of Kafir pottery of a very far back period (and so pronounced by Dr. Hahn and other experts) have been used as crude scorifiers , and the gold can still be seen on them in the flux, while other undoubted Kafir remains, some of

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3. COPPER ARTICLES

3. COPPER ARTICLES

Discoveries of copper in several forms are made on intermediate and higher levels. So far no copper article has been found by any explorer at Zimbabwe which could be claimed as being ancient, though doubtless the ancients worked also in copper, and it is quite probable that copper articles made in pre-Kafir times may yet be found. Such copper articles as have been found show a decided Kafir form, the copper battle-axes and barbed spearheads, bangles, beads, and wire-work closely resembling the i

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4. IRON ARTICLES

4. IRON ARTICLES

Objects made of iron are found in all floors, but mainly on intermediate and upper floors. Makalanga iron tools, ornaments, weapons, and iron slag are found in great profusion on the upper floors, especially in the black surface mould and among grass and shrub roots. Modern native-made iron hoes are as a rule without any sign of bevel to strengthen the blade, but iron hoes with a peculiar bevel down the centre of the blade on both sides are found among native articles of a rather superior charac

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5. BRASS ARTICLES

5. BRASS ARTICLES

So far as investigations lead, no relics of brass have been found on the lower floors of any of the ruins at Zimbabwe. But on the upper clay floors brass in several forms is found in abundance. It will be remembered that in 1514 Duarte Barbosa wrote, “The people of Monomotapa come to Sofala charged with gold, and give such quantities that the merchants gain one hundred for one.” This was written soon after the first arrival of the Portuguese at Sofala, and given in a description of Arab trade on

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6. FOREIGN STONES

6. FOREIGN STONES

Every enclosure in the ruins at Zimbabwe which has been recently examined yields stone altogether foreign to the granite formation of the district. Many tons of slate have been brought here from a distance of at least eight miles, and also large quantities of soapstone from a similar distance, while dolorite , once used as anvils, was discovered, also diorite used as hammers, quartz , jasper stone showing gold, serpentine stone, calcedony pebbles, crystal pebbles, metamorphic slate , mica schist

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7. BEADS

7. BEADS

In addition to beads of gold, copper, and brass, several other descriptions of these articles have recently been found at Zimbabwe. The most important are two large beads similar to one found by Mr. Bent, and to which he attributed a great antiquity, also some broken pieces of similar beads. These are black, and are covered with flowers resembling primroses, and the flower is outlined by parallel white lines. The spaces between these lines are filled in with dark brown and violet glaze. These we

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8. WHORLS

8. WHORLS

Pottery whorls of about 1½ in. to 3 in. in diameter have been found in hundreds. These were used by old natives for drawing the threads out of a mass of cotton. A stick was passed through the centre, and the bottom end was inserted in the cotton, while the upper part was twisted round quickly between the palms of the hand. Most whorls are cut out of fragments of native bowls and pots. Many old natives will explain how they were used. These clay whorls are found in old deserted villages and in Ma

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9. GLASS POTTERY AND CHINA

9. GLASS POTTERY AND CHINA

These finds are so numerous and diversified that they require a special work for their proper treatment. Some two hundred specimens selected from the bulk have been collected, and these with particulars as to their locations and associated articles, with specimens found elsewhere in Rhodesia, will be laid before an expert for technical classification, when another avenue of research with regard to the ancient and mediæval occupiers of this country, both native and foreign, will certainly be open

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10. A MEDIÆVAL ARAB TRADING STATION

10. A MEDIÆVAL ARAB TRADING STATION

One of the most interesting discoveries recently made was at Renders Ruins in the Valley of Ruins. In a corner of one of the enclosures of these ruins, and at some depth, and all within a few feet, were found the glazed pottery with Arab lettering, an iron lamp-stand and copper chain, an iron spoon of great age, copper snake-rings (pronounced not to be of native make), and several other articles suggesting some far back period of an Arab occupation, most probably of mediæval times. Over this col

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DEGREE OF DURABILITY OF WALLS

DEGREE OF DURABILITY OF WALLS

( a ) As may be seen by anyone inspecting the walls, as well as on perusing the published description of many ruins of the earliest types, the elliptical and curved form of building has proved the most durable. In many instances the elliptical structures are more or less intact, while the angular and less skilfully built additions, extensions, and alterations of a later period have largely become ruinous and chaotic. ( b ) This is accounted for by the more excellent workmanship in the constructi

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DILAPIDATIONS

DILAPIDATIONS

At Zimbabwe both the ravages of time, as well as preventable damage during the last decade, have brought about the wholesale destruction of walls as seen to-day in their dilapidated condition. This is the plaint of all who have known the ruins since the time of the occupation. These all bemoan the fact that on each renewed visit to the ruins some wall is found to have disappeared, or some new bulging out of the massive structures threatens serious and immediate destruction, which no amount of la

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OTHER WALLS NOT ANCIENT[42]

OTHER WALLS NOT ANCIENT[42]

But there are other walls in these ruins which are not believed to be ancient, and these have not been erected by recent generations of Makalanga, but possibly by mediæval Makalanga, or by Arabs, who had large influential colonies in this country, especially at the various Zimbabwes of the successive Monomotapas. The arguments against these walls being ancient are just as numerous and equally as cogent as those just enumerated, but the consideration of such walls is dealt with in detail in the d

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REMAINS OF NATIVE HUTS FOUND IN THE RUINS

REMAINS OF NATIVE HUTS FOUND IN THE RUINS

In many of the enclosures of the ruins at Zimbabwe are to be found on the present surfaces, and frequently, if the floor of the interior is not formed by the rock formation, on two floors beneath it, the remains of at least three entirely different descriptions of native huts. This is a feature constantly met with in ancient ruins throughout Southern Rhodesia, and in the early days of investigation these remains occasioned considerable perplexity to the explorer. In some ruins only one type of s

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PASSAGES

PASSAGES

Every writer on Zimbabwe appears to have been greatly struck with the number of passages both at the Elliptical Temple and on the Acropolis, and particularly with their labyrinthine character. During 1902–4 further passages were discovered and opened out, and these had a total length of 2,130 ft. The total length of passages opened out, or which can be clearly traced, now amounts to 5,202 ft. As is shown later in this section, this by no means exhausts the tale of passages to be found at Zimbabw

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ENTRANCES AND BUTTRESSES

ENTRANCES AND BUTTRESSES

When in 1891 Bent approached Zimbabwe through North Bechuanaland, Gwanda, Tuli, and Belingwe, he passed through the centre of that area in which the earliest of the many ancient ruins of Rhodesia are located. All the ruins he described or mentioned had rounded ends of walls and rounded buttresses, all angular features being conspicuous by their absence. This fact appeared to him so striking that he was constrained, after comparing these ruins with Zimbabwe, to believe that such rounded features

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CAUSE OF DILAPIDATION TO ENTRANCE BUTTRESSES

CAUSE OF DILAPIDATION TO ENTRANCE BUTTRESSES

The entrance buttresses with portcullis grooves are in most instances comparatively small, some projecting only two to three feet towards the interior of the building, and these are built up against main and divisional walls, and are in point of construction altogether independent erections, there being no dovetailing or binding between the buttresses and the walls. In some of the entrances the side lintels of slate, granite, and unworked soapstone beams have been found built into the portcullis

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DRAINS IN ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

DRAINS IN ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

DRAINS through main walls :— 1. At (352 ft.); [43] from Parallel Passage to exterior of temple; has a decided fall outwards; curves round at half through towards south; covered with large slabs; inner hole 1 in. below granite cement floor of passage, which slopes downwards from either side towards hole; interior opening 14 in. high, 9 in. wide; exterior opening, 12 in. high, 6 in. wide. Between Nos. 1 and 2 drains the cement floor rises a few inches to a raised step-barrier 4 in. high, 3 ft. 10

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DRAINS AT ACROPOLIS RUINS

DRAINS AT ACROPOLIS RUINS

16. In Western Temple, in divisional wall “A” (see plan and description); drain-hole passes 5 ft. from north to south; northern opening 9 in. high, 11 in. wide; impossible to state the fall owing to stones and dirt inside; fragments of cement lining were found here in 1891, 1892, and 1902. [The interior of this temple was on the north side of wall “A,” as well as on the south side of wall “D,” much higher than between these two walls, which form a small amphitheatre (Bent) within and at the west

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DRAINS IN VALLEY OF RUINS

DRAINS IN VALLEY OF RUINS

20. In B section of Posselt Ruins in a divisional wall at extreme north-west end of ruins. 21. In B section of Posselt Ruins in a divisional wall on north side 4 ft. wide. 22. In B section of Posselt Ruins in main south wall. 23. In Philips Ruins through a substantial wall east of large curved wall. 24. In Philips Ruins through wall on east side of previous drain. 25. In Mauch Ruins in divisional wall. 26. In Mauch Ruins in east main wall. 27. In Mauch Ruins in east wall of the outer enclosure..

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THE BATTERING OF WALLS

THE BATTERING OF WALLS

The backward incline of both faces of walls from their bases to summits is a general characteristic in ancient architecture at Zimbabwe, and in all other ruins which belong to the earliest known type of ancient buildings in this country. This feature, so far as examinations have been made, is conspicuous by its absence from all buildings of the second or later period. So noticeable is this feature in the main walls of the Elliptical Temple that visitors viewing the walls from the interior consta

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MONOLITHS

MONOLITHS

In most of the ruins of both major and minor importance at Zimbabwe, numerous beams of slate and granite, varying from 4 ft. to 14 ft. in length, have been found, some of the slate beams showing signs of having been treated with tools. It has been the custom of many writers to call these beams “monoliths.” In the greater number of instances these beams can be shown never to have been employed as monoliths. So far, at Zimbabwe, authenticated monoliths have been discovered only at the Elliptical T

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SOAPSTONE MONOLITHS AND BEAMS

SOAPSTONE MONOLITHS AND BEAMS

Monoliths of soapstone have only been found in the three temples, but in greater profusion in the Eastern Temple on the Acropolis, and at Philips Ruins. Here they were found by their sections to have been of various diameters, but every one had been shaped with tools, some being artistically, others only crudely, decorated, but the majority were plain. Chevron pattern was evidently the favourite design employed. The Makalanga are believed to have used some of the broken sections of soapstone mon

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NUMBER OF MONOLITHS STILL MORE OR LESS ERECT

NUMBER OF MONOLITHS STILL MORE OR LESS ERECT

The number of monoliths still erect, or which have fallen, is as follows, but the number may be further increased as the débris at the bases of the temple walls is examined:— At Elliptical Temple.—Nine granite monoliths still erect, nine fallen; no slate monoliths erect, five fallen; two granite monoliths, one of which is fractured, stand in No. 5 Enclosure. At Eastern Temple, Acropolis.—There are no soapstone monoliths now standing, but a considerable number of sections of slate and soapstone m

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SLATE AND GRANITE BEAMS.

SLATE AND GRANITE BEAMS.

These are plentifully found in all the enclosures. Sections and splinters of slate beams are found in entrances which have portcullis grooves, one still standing in position 8 ft. above the floor. Slate beams used as entrance posts in portcullis grooves were erected before the building of the entrance, as the enclosing blocks follow the irregularities of the beams. Wood posts found in some portcullis grooves in poorer built walls are not considered ancient, and their comparative modernity is tes

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CEMENT DADOES

CEMENT DADOES

One of the discoveries made recently in clearing the lower portions of interior faces of walls from débris, which appears to have covered them for centuries, is that some portions of such walls have been found to be covered with the remains of excellent granite cement dadoes. This is particularly to be noticed on three walls of the Sacred Enclosure , on the south wall of No. 11 Enclosure , and at the Little Enclosure and the Upper Passage on the Acropolis, and in other ruins where portions of th

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BUILT-UP CREVICES

BUILT-UP CREVICES

On the Acropolis Hill cliffs and boulders form such prominent features that these have often been employed as sides of enclosures. The ancients were in many instances at great pains to build up crevices and fissures in rocks, especially where these are in or near the enclosures. Even small crevices only a foot or so wide, and penetrating into the face of the cliffs and rocks for but two or three feet, the front being the only part giving access to such fissures, are carefully built up flush with

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HOLES IN WALLS OTHER THAN DRAINS

HOLES IN WALLS OTHER THAN DRAINS

This peculiar feature of ancient architecture is especially prominent at the Acropolis, also in East Ruins, and in almost all the ruins in the Valley of Ruins. There are holes, generally square, in the lower parts of the walls at two or three feet above any ancient floor. They are found only on the inside faces of walls, not one as yet having been discovered on the outer face. That they are intentionally made is a matter of ocular demonstration, for many have lintels either of large granite slab

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BLIND STEPS AND PLATFORMS

BLIND STEPS AND PLATFORMS

In several enclosures in the principal ruins at Zimbabwe, but mainly at the Elliptical Temple, and in the angles formed by the meeting of side walls of the enclosures, are to be seen small raised platforms approached by two or three steps. These steps could not have led to higher positions than the small platforms, that is, they could not have been intended for mounting to the summit of the wall, for the bottom steps are at far too short a distance from the walls in comparison with their heights

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ANCIENT WALLS AT A DISTANCE FROM ANY MAIN RUINS ARE OF A LESS SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION

ANCIENT WALLS AT A DISTANCE FROM ANY MAIN RUINS ARE OF A LESS SUPERIOR CONSTRUCTION

There is another class of building found in walls erected at a distance from any main ruins, and these, though constructed in a somewhat rougher form, are otherwise all built upon the principles of the First Period of Zimbabwe architecture. These walls can be clearly shown to have formed part of the original purpose, plan, and con struction as the main ruins, and prove that the original ancient builders, while devoting their best skill to the temples and residential portions of the building, wer

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CEMENT

CEMENT

The original builders of the Zimbabwe ruins, as well as those of later ancient periods, can be seen to have shown a peculiar partiality for the employment of cements for all constructive work save that of building the walls, which are all, without exception, of dry masonry. Evidently the ancients, judging by the immense quantity of cement work throughout the ruins, much of which is still in splendid condition, deliberately avoided the use of cement in the construction of the walls. Probably in t

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ANCIENTS AND CAVES AND ROCK HOLES

ANCIENTS AND CAVES AND ROCK HOLES

There are innumerable rock holes, chasms, and large fissures among the cliffs and boulders of the Acropolis Hill, but there is only one—the Balcony Cave—that actually deserves the title of cave, though this name is bestowed upon them all by several writers. Perhaps Balcony Cave approaches nearest to the general conception of what is a cave. But the holes under beetling boulders which constitute these “caves” are as a rule shallow, low, and narrow. There are no evidences in any of these holes, so

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CONSTRUCTION

CONSTRUCTION

The construction of the main wall from the north to the east, and round to the south and south-west, is admittedly by far the finest specimen of ancient constructive work yet found in Rhodesia; it has consequently been made the standard by which the best-known writers and greatest authorities judge of the quality of the work shown in other walls in the country. Certainly two large and important ruins in the Lower Sabi Valley, which are much larger in area but with lower walls than Zimbabwe, clos

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MEASUREMENTS OF MAIN WALL

MEASUREMENTS OF MAIN WALL

The circumference of the outer face of the main wall taken at the level of the threshold of the entrances measures about 831 ft. As the foundations throughout the circumference are, as is shown later, some 3 ft. to 5 ft. below this level, and as the usual Zimbabwe batter-back prevails, the circumference of the foundations of this building may safely be estimated at a further 40 ft., which would make a total circumference of the base of the temple some 873 ft. The circumference of the inside face

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SUMMIT OF MAIN WALL

SUMMIT OF MAIN WALL

For some fairly extensive lengths along the summit of the more massive portion of the main wall the blocks and stones are higher on the centre of the floor of the summit than at top outer edges on either side, from which edges the measurements of the heights above the exterior and interior surfaces of the ground were taken. Branches of trees beating in high winds upon the summit, the weight of heavy festoons of creepers hanging from the summit, and the growth of monkey-ropes and wild vines in th

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FOUNDATION

FOUNDATION

For such massive walls it is astonishing to find that the bottom courses of the foundation are not more than from 2 ft. to 3 ft. 6 in. below the present level of the ground immediately surrounding the building. The foundation has been examined at eighteen equi-distant points along the outer circumference, and in no single part does it rest on formation rock, the nearest proximity of which is at a further depth of 4 ft. on the north, 5 ft. on the west, 9 ft. on the south, and 4 ft. on the east. N

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CHEVRON PATTERN

CHEVRON PATTERN

On the upper portion of the exterior face of the south-east main wall is the celebrated chevron pattern which forms one of the most interesting features at the Elliptical Temple. This pattern runs for 265 ft. 6 in. from [189 ft.] to [456 ft. 6 in.] on the line of measurement of the exterior circumference of the temple, that is, from south-south-east to east-north-east. The pattern is in two rows or bands, which together are 18 in. deep, and Bent states that “it extends along the part of the wall

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GROUND SURFACE OF EXTERIOR OF MAIN WALL

GROUND SURFACE OF EXTERIOR OF MAIN WALL

Till August, 1902, the area surrounding the Elliptical Temple was mere veld and bush, and trees and shrubs grew so thickly near the main wall that it was impossible at certain points to penetrate the jungle to make a complete examination of the wall, while piles of soil from excavations lay along the base of the wall, and some up against the wall itself, in some cases to a height of 6 ft. above the average level of the exterior ground. Trenches and deep holes, the main wall forming one side of t

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NORTH-WEST ENTRANCE

NORTH-WEST ENTRANCE

THIS entrance is on the north-west side of the temple at (606 ft. 6 in.) to (611 ft. 6 in.) inside, and [656 ft.] to [660 ft.] outside. As in the case of North and West Entrances , the foundations of the main wall are carried from side to side of the entrance and from the floor of the passage, and in them the outer steps are built. The east side wall is 4 ft. wide where it starts to curve inwards to form the passage and at 6 ft. above the floor of the entrance. The west side is 7 ft. wide where

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THE NORTH ENTRANCE

THE NORTH ENTRANCE

This entrance is in the north-east wall of the temple, and its exit faces north-east, twenty-five degrees, and is situated between the (523 ft. 6 in.) and (536 ft.) points of the measurement of the inside base of the main wall from the south side of the west entrance, and between the [566 ft. 6 in.] and [571 ft. 6 in.] points of the measurement of the outside base of the main wall from the south side of same entrance. It has always been known as the North Entrance, as it is on the north side of

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WESTERN ENTRANCE

WESTERN ENTRANCE

This is the second largest entrance to the temple, and would appear to have been of some importance. It is by the West Entrance that visitors now usually enter the building. The gateway opens directly into No. 5 Enclosure . The entrance is situated between [827 ft. 9 in.] and [831 ft. 9 in.] on the line of the measurement of the circumference of the exterior of the building, which starts on the south side of the entrance, and between (763 ft. 6 in.) and (766 ft. 6 in.) on the line of the measure

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NO. 1 ENCLOSURE

NO. 1 ENCLOSURE

THIS enclosure is on the north side of the temple, the outer face of its north-eastern wall being 18 ft. south-west of the North Entrance . This is the most perfect of all the enclosures. It is roughly circular, and there are no angular features in the body of the wall, though both entrances have their outer corners squared. The area is: north to south 56 ft. 6 in., and east to west 55 ft. 6 in. The average height of the walls all round the enclosure is 7 ft. above the present surface of the fil

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NO. 2 ENCLOSURE

NO. 2 ENCLOSURE

This is a pear-shaped enclosure at the north-north-west side of the temple, and is built up immediately against the main outer wall from (530 ft.) to (578 ft.), and is on the west side of the North Entrance . It is 47 ft. long from south-east to north-east, and 13 ft. wide from north-east to south-west at its broadest part. From (560 ft.) to (565 ft.) the main wall is considerably broken, having fallen outwards. It is between these points that there is a narrow break in the foundations, which su

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NO. 3 ENCLOSURE

NO. 3 ENCLOSURE

This is the most north-westerly enclosure of the temple, the north-west main wall from (590 ft.) to (660 ft.) forming its north-westerly boundary. The south side is formed by No. 1 Enclosure , the west by No. 4 Enclosure , and the north and east by No. 2 Enclosure . The area is keystone-shaped, being 76 ft. long on its north-west side, 45 ft. 6 in. on its west side, 71 ft. on the south side, and 50 ft. 6 in. on the north and east side. The North-West Entrance to the temple is at (606 ft. 6 in.)

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NO. 4 ENCLOSURE

NO. 4 ENCLOSURE

This is the most westerly of the temple enclosures. Its form resembles that of a keystone with the broad side on the west main wall, along the inside of which it extends for 67 ft. from (666 ft.) to (730 ft.) It is bounded on the north side by the divisional wall separating it from No. 3 Enclosure , and this side is 47 ft. 6 in. long. This wall extends from the outer face of the west portion of the wall of No. 1 Enclosure for 14 ft., from which it is in a good state of preservation, except for r

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NO. 5 ENCLOSURE

NO. 5 ENCLOSURE

This enclosure is immediately inside the West Entrance to the temple, the western and south-western main wall forming its boundary on those sides from (735 ft.) to (760 ft.) on the north side of the entrance, and from (0 ft.) to (100 ft.) on the south side of the entrance, thus making its length on the side of the main wall to be 130 ft. The area was once subdivided, but at present it is difficult to say exactly where the sub-divisional walls ran, though the faint traces of these are to be seen

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NO. 6 ENCLOSURE

NO. 6 ENCLOSURE

This adjoins No. 5 Enclosure , which forms its western boundary. The south side is formed by the south main wall of the temple from (100 ft.) to (179 ft. 3 in.). The north and north-east side is formed by the south wall of No. 7 Enclosure . This wall is from 5 ft. to 11 ft. high. The eastern side is formed by the west wall of the Sacred Enclosure , which is from 8 ft. to 11 ft. high. The measurements of this area are: south side, 79 ft.; north side, 58 ft.; east side, 22 ft.; and west side, 31 f

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NO. 7 ENCLOSURE

NO. 7 ENCLOSURE

This enclosure is on the south side of the temple, the south and south-west wall running for 55 ft. parallel with the main wall at a distance of about 21 ft. This enclosure, next to No. 1 Enclosure , is in the best state of preservation of any chamber within the temple. Its area is 54 ft. 6 in. from north to south, and 39 ft. from east to west, and its form resembles a quarter section of a circle, with its rounded side extending from south-west to north, the centre of which quarter-circle is at

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NO. 8THE SACRED ENCLOSURE

NO. 8THE SACRED ENCLOSURE

THIS enclosure, which contains the Conical Tower and the now ruined “ Little Cone ,” lies on the south-east of the temple area, the main east wall from south-east to east-north-east being its eastern boundary from (186 ft.) to (315 ft). In shape it is long and narrow, the Conical Tower practically dividing the area into two almost equal sections: Sacred Enclosure ( east ), and Sacred Enclosure ( west ). The length of this enclosure measured along the inside face of the main wall is 129 ft. 2 in.

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THE CONICAL TOWER[52]

THE CONICAL TOWER[52]

This celebrated tower, which forms one of the chief architectural features of the Zimbabwe ruins, stands in the centre of the Sacred Enclosure, dividing it into two areas. The south-east of the tower is 3 ft. 10 in. from the main wall of the temple (at 255 ft.) from the south side of the west entrance. It is 31 ft. high on its south-east face; 30 ft. on the south-west side; 26 ft. 6 in. on its north-east side; and 29 ft. on the north-west side. These measurements are taken from the actual founda

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THE SMALL TOWER

THE SMALL TOWER

The base of this stands in Sacred Enclosure ( east ), at 5 ft. 2 in. north-east of the large tower. Its circumference at the cement floor is 21 ft. 7 in. At 4 ft. above the floor it has a circumference of 19 ft. 10 in., the dilapidation not being so serious as to prevent this measurement being taken. The present reduced height is as follows: west side, 3 ft. 2 in.; south side, 4 ft. 6 in.; east side, 6 ft. 6 in.; and north side, 5 ft. 3 in. Unfortunately this tower, which Bent proved to have bee

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THE PARALLEL PASSAGE

THE PARALLEL PASSAGE

This passage, which is one of the most interesting features of ancient architecture at Zimbabwe, is 220 ft. long, and extends from (329 ft.) from the West Entrance to (513 ft.) from the same point, and runs along the inside of the east and north-east of the main wall of the temple, that is, from the Sacred Enclosure to the North Entrance of the temple. The ancient priests could by means of this long, deep, and exceedingly narrow passage reach the Sacred Enclosure from the exterior of the temple

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8a. THE PLATFORM

8a. THE PLATFORM

THIS is a raised platform standing immediately in front of the Conical Tower at a distance of 4 ft. from north to north-west. The proximity of this structure to the Conical Tower , its position in front of it, its summit commanding a view of the interior of the temple, particularly of the interior of the Sacred Enclosure , its peculiar form as compared with other structures in the temple, and the excellent workmanship displayed in its walls, as well as the decoration of green chlorite schist on

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NO. 9 ENCLOSURE

NO. 9 ENCLOSURE

This enclosure lies to the north of the western end of Sacred Enclosure ( west ), to the east of No. 7 Enclosure , to the west of The Platform , and to the south of the south passage to No. 10 Enclosure and of No. 10 Enclosure . Its area is: north side, 26 ft; west side, 26 ft.; east side, 42 ft.; and south side, 24 ft. The south side is formed by the wall dividing this enclosure from Sacred Enclosure ( west ), and this is 9 ft. high, and shows the two classes of building as does the opposite si

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NO. 10 ENCLOSURE

NO. 10 ENCLOSURE

This enclosure lies on the north side of No. 7 Enclosure . Until August, 1902, nothing was known concerning it, nor could it have been examined during the last fifty years. The Makalanga, as previously stated, whose last occupation of the temple as a kraal was some sixty years ago, had filled it in with stones and rubble and laid a common clay floor over the filling-in, as was their usual practice in almost all the ancient ruins in Rhodesia which they occupied. On this clay floor was built a cir

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SOUTH APPROACH TO NO. 10 ENCLOSURE

SOUTH APPROACH TO NO. 10 ENCLOSURE

This is formed by a passage 10 ft. long, which enters this enclosure at its south-east corner. It is probable that this passage was much longer, and that it once extended to the north-west corner of the Sacred Enclosure , where is an entrance facing the passage. The west side of the passage is formed by a wall 14 ft. 6 in. long, 4 ft. high, and 3 ft. 6 in. on its present reduced summit, which wall is also the east wall of No. 7 Enclosure . On the east side is a very well-built wall 10 ft. 6 in.

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NO. 11 ENCLOSURE

NO. 11 ENCLOSURE

This immediately adjoins on the north side of Sacred Enclosure ( east ). On the west side it is bounded by The Platform , on the east by a large rounded buttress which separates it from No. 12 Enclosure , but its northern boundary, if any, is at present difficult to determine. Through this enclosure is the northern entrance to the Sacred Enclosure , and this entrance is within 8 ft. of the north face of the Conical Tower . Evidently both from its close proximity to the Sacred Enclosure , the Tow

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NO. 12 ENCLOSURE

NO. 12 ENCLOSURE

This immediately adjoins No. 11 Enclosure on its north-east side. Its east wall for 28 ft. is formed by west wall of Sacred Enclosure ( east ), and for 21 ft. by the west wall of Parallel Passage . These walls are one, and curve outwards towards the east to the extent of 6 ft. from a line drawn from end to end of the wall in this enclosure. This east wall is 49 ft. long and 10 ft. high, and from the angular buttress at the south-west corner has a banquette wall, 4 ft. high, projecting 1 ft. 6 in

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NO. 13 ENCLOSURE

NO. 13 ENCLOSURE

This adjoins No. 12 Enclosure on the north side, the west side of the inner wall of the Parallel Passage forming its eastern boundary for 25 ft. 6 in. This wall is 5 ft. high for 18 ft. from the south end of the enclosure, and 11 ft. 6 in. high for the last 7 ft. of its northern end. The south side is formed for 12 ft. by the wall separating this enclosure from No. 12 , but No. 13 being at a lower level, this wall is 6 ft. high from the present filled-in surface of the enclosure. The north and n

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NO. 14 ENCLOSURE

NO. 14 ENCLOSURE

This enclosure, which is on the east side of the temple, is where the Inner Parallel Passage opens into the interior of the building. The area is 47 ft. from north to south, and 42 ft. east to west. It is open on the north and west sides where it adjoins No. 15 Enclosure and the Central Area respectively. The east side is formed by the south entrance to Inner Parallel Passage by the large buttress, 7 ft. high, projecting into, and forming, the south side of the entrance to that passage, and by a

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NO. 15 ENCLOSURE

NO. 15 ENCLOSURE

From an archæological point of view this enclosure is one of the most interesting compartments in the temple, for here are to be seen several layers of floors of a succession of occupiers each for a long period of time. In 1903 this enclosure was found to be filled in with soil, ashes, and bones to a depth of 12 ft., and on the top was a large tree at least seventy to a hundred years old. When this great body of filling-in was cleared away several most interesting architectural features were rev

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CENTRAL AREA

CENTRAL AREA

This area of unexplored ground lies at the centre of the temple. It was originally very much larger, but recent excavations have reduced it in extent. The space covered is 80 ft. from east to west, and 30 ft. from north to south, and it extends between Nos. 5 and 14 Enclosures , and Nos. 1 and 10 Enclosures . Some plans of the temple show dotted lines to mark position of conjectured walls, but most of these have been found not to exist. On the surface of the highest portion of this area are slig

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PLATFORM AREA

PLATFORM AREA

Immediately in front of and adjoining the Sacred Enclosure in which stands the Conical Tower , and overlooked by The Platform , is a large open area in the form of a bow, the rounded side—east and south-east—being formed by No. 9 Enclosure , The Platform , and Nos. 11, 12, and 13 Enclosures , while the straight side, from south-west to north-east, is formed by Nos. 7 and 10 Enclosures , a circular platform, and No. 13 Enclosure . The area covered by this open space is 126 ft. from south-west to

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INNER PARALLEL PASSAGE

INNER PARALLEL PASSAGE

This passage lies between the main Parallel Passage and No. 15 Enclosure . It runs north-west to south-east from the South Passage near the North Entrance to the temple into No. 15 Enclosure , and is parallel with Parallel Passage . The three parallel walls forming the two passages are generally known as the Triple Walls . Whereas the Parallel Passage led from the North Entrance to the Sacred Enclosure only, this leads from near the North Entrance right into the interior of the temple. Its lengt

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SOUTH PASSAGE

SOUTH PASSAGE

This passage appears to have been the main artery leading from the main and North Entrance of the temple right into the central portion of the building, where it has its terminus. It is 68 ft. long from the broad step on the south side of the North Entrance to the steps at the south end of the passage. For 23 ft. from the north end where is the broad step there is an almost triangular area, 23 ft. from north to south, and 30 ft. from east to west, having its base on the north side. The western e

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WEST PASSAGE

WEST PASSAGE

This passage lies on the west side of the interior of the temple, and is between Nos. 4 and 5 Enclosures on the west and No. 1 Enclosure and Central Area on the east. It runs north and south, and is formed on the west side by a massive and well-built wall, which is in the form of an arc; the length of the inside face of the wall being 65 ft., and that of the line drawn from extremity to extremity of the wall being 57 ft., and this passes at 8 ft. from the inner face at the centre of the curve we

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NORTH-EAST PASSAGE[57]

NORTH-EAST PASSAGE[57]

This passage is on the north-east side of the temple and immediately outside the North Entrance , running north-east at right angles from the main wall between that entrance and [590 ft.]. Its total length is 360 ft., but there is some evidence that it once extended further towards the north-east for at least some hundred yards beyond the 360 ft. Only a portion of the 360 ft. length has at present been cleared of débris. On the north-west side it is bounded by a well-built wall 4 ft. 6 in. high

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OUTER PARALLEL PASSAGE

OUTER PARALLEL PASSAGE

On leaving the temple by the North Entrance one enters a walled-in area. This area is formed by the southern extremity of the North-East Passage and the western extremity of the Outer Parallel Passage , both of which meet at, and converge upon, the North Entrance . The Outer Parallel Passage runs for 125 ft. east-south-east from the North Entrance parallel with the north-east wall of the temple between the points [450 ft.] and [575 ft.] of its outer circumference. At its extremity near the North

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SOUTH-EAST ANCIENT ASCENT

SOUTH-EAST ANCIENT ASCENT

Leaving the huts at Havilah Camp, which occupy a low granite knoll on the north side of the Shangani Grave and overlook the narrow valley running at the south foot of the hill, one crosses the outspan and passes through the “Outspan Ruins,” [58] which face the camp at a distance of 70 yds. due north, which ruins are part of an inner line of defence wall running round the base of the hill on the west, south, and east sides, and which lie within the main outer wall sweep ing round from the west si

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(a) THE LOWER PARAPET

(a) THE LOWER PARAPET

At the upper end of this 45 ft. length of wall, and on the left-hand side, is a natural parapet artificially improved. This is the Lower Parapet, the outer and left-hand side of which is formed by the summit of a large boulder 25 ft. long, and its highest point not more than 4 ft. 6 in. above the floor of the ascent. From this vantage ground a fine view is obtained of the hills to the south, with the Bentberg ( Matusa ) directly opposite, and the Elliptical Temple and the valley of Ruins below.

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(b) THE ROCK PASSAGE

(b) THE ROCK PASSAGE

From this point the ascent is continued in the same direction between the main cliff of the hill on the inner side (which at this elevated level of the ascent is only 50 ft. above the passage) and a colossal boulder on the outer side. This boulder beetles inwards towards the cliff and over the heads of passers-by. The outside height of the boulder appears to be some 80 ft. or 90 ft., and at one time before the occupation of the hill by the ancient builders it formed part of the main cliff from w

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(c) THE HIGHER PARAPET

(c) THE HIGHER PARAPET

The length of this parapet, which extends from within 9 ft. 6 in. of the summit of the ancient ascent, is 78 ft., and it runs in an easterly direction from the right-hand side of the ascent at the point where is the upper wedge-shaped buttress and the outer parapet wall is built along a narrow ledge at the very utmost edge of the cliff. Its front foundation stones are wedge-shaped to suit the declivity of the rock on which they are placed. At certain points this parapet wall has fallen over the

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WESTERN ENCLOSURE

WESTERN ENCLOSURE

To reach the Western Temple on the hill from the South-East Ancient Ascent , the Western Enclosure must first be crossed, seeing that the Higher Parapet path is now become dangerous. This enclosure lies on the west side of the main west wall of the Western Temple . The highest part of the enclosure—the east—is 212 ft., and the lowest—the west part—is 205 ft. above the valley. The main west wall of the Western Temple forms its easterly boundary for 71 ft., the other walls making the enclosure nea

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CHAPTER XV THE ACROPOLIS RUINS(Continued)

CHAPTER XV THE ACROPOLIS RUINS(Continued)

THIS temple is the most westerly portion of the main ruins on Zimbabwe Hill , and is built upon the steep edge of the western side of the kopje at 220 ft. above the valley and also immediately on the summit of the precipice, some 90 ft. in height, which runs along the south face of the hill. A splendid view of the Elliptical Temple in the valley, as well as of the many ruins within the Zimbabwe Reserve , is obtainable from this point. The Western Temple has the form of an amphitheatre, its area

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PLATFORM ENCLOSURE

PLATFORM ENCLOSURE

THIS enclosure is on the north side of the Western Temple , and immediately at the foot of the stairs leading up the north-west side of The Platform . The east side is 46 ft. long, and is formed by a wall 19 ft. high and 7 ft. wide at 5 ft. above the present level of the interior. The north wall is 33 ft. along its face, and including a rounded corner at the north-east. It is 3 ft. wide at its present reduced height, which averages from 2 ft. 6 in. to 5 ft. above the rock floor. The north wall i

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CLEFT ROCK ENCLOSURE

CLEFT ROCK ENCLOSURE

This enclosure lies to the east of the Platform Enclosure , and its west wall is the same as forms the east wall of that enclosure. At all other points its sides are formed by cliffs and large boulders rising to the height of some 50 ft. and 60 ft. The west side is 46 ft. long, and its north and south sides are about 86 ft. each in length, these meeting at their extreme east. Cleft Rock , which is so very often seen in photographs of the Zimbabwe ruins, rises for about 25 ft. above the surface o

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THE PLATFORM

THE PLATFORM

This is an elevated position at the east corner of the Western Temple , commanding a splendid view of the whole of the interior of the temple and of the surrounding enclosures. It appears to have been erected for the same purposes as were The Platform in the Elliptical Temple in the valley, and the Ancient Balcony in the Eastern Temple on the hill. Its height is 27 ft. 6 in. above the present floor of the temple, and about 32 ft. above any of its ancient floors. It is 250 ft. above the level of

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BALCONY WALL

BALCONY WALL

This is on the south side of The Platform , from which it is reached. The top of this wall is level with the top of the Winding Stairs , and it forms the western end of East Passage , and the eastern wall of the Western Temple . It is 21 ft. long and from 4 ft. to 6 ft. wide. Through it is the Covered Passage (see Western Temple )....

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LITTLE ENCLOSURE

LITTLE ENCLOSURE

This can be seen from the Balcony Wall between the southern end of which and the Upper Passage it lies. It is 8 ft. deep, 5 ft. wide, and 11 ft. long. The entrance appears to have been at outside of the south-western end of the Upper Passage . It is almost entirely filled up with débris. It once had a granite cement dado 3 in. thick on its sides, some of which still remain intact. It is from this enclosure that the drain-hole on the west side of the Upper Passage emerges....

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THE WINDING STAIRS

THE WINDING STAIRS

These lead from The Platform to the East Passage , which again leads to the eastern extremity of the Acropolis Ruins . The stairs are 14 ft. long, and descend 8 ft., and are 4 ft. to 6 ft. wide. The wall on the south side is 4 ft. to 7 ft. high as the stairs descend. The wall at the east end is 7 ft. high. The face of a huge boulder forms the north side. The foot of the stairs, where they turn towards the south, is covered by a narrow wall supported by an old wooden beam. This beam is not ancien

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UPPER PASSAGE

UPPER PASSAGE

This passage, which is 28 ft. long, connects the bottom of the Winding Stairs and the south side of the interior of the Western Temple . On the east side the wall is from 4 ft. 6 in. to 6 ft. high, and 5 ft. to 10 ft. on the west side. It is 3 ft. 6 in. wide throughout. It is approached at the northern end between buttresses, the one on the west side being round, while the one on the eastern side is rounded on the inner side and angular on the outer side. On the west side are the remains of a dr

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EAST PASSAGE

EAST PASSAGE

This passage is 80 ft. long from the foot of the Winding Stairs to the north side of South Enclosure C . At the foot of the Winding Stairs the passage-way turns east, the north side for 13 ft. being a large rounded buttress 6 ft. high. On the south side at this point is the eastern end of the Covered Passage leading up from the floor of the Western Temple , and a few feet further east is the northern entrance to the Upper Passage . From the 14 ft. length to the 31 ft. length of the passage going

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BUTTRESS PASSAGE

BUTTRESS PASSAGE

This passage runs north and south for 39 ft. between two gigantic cliff-boulders on the summit of the hill. This passage connected the enclosures on the north and south sides of the cliff. The rocks on either side of the passage at its bottom and south end are 50 ft. high on the east side, and 35 ft. high on the west side, and at the upper or north end are from 15 ft. to 20 ft. high. The path ascends throughout its length, and its upper end is 14 ft. above the lower end. The width between the ro

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SOUTH ENCLOSURE A

SOUTH ENCLOSURE A

This enclosure is 51 ft. long from east to west, and is 25 ft. wide at its broadest point. Its shape is that of a long, narrow triangle, the apex resting at its south-east end. Most of the south wall has fallen over the edge of the precipice. There are two rounded entrances on the north side from the East Passage . The walls remaining are from 5 ft. to 7 ft. high. There is a drain-hole through the south wall at the south-east corner. The South Passage forms the eastern side. On the west side is

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SOUTH CAVE

SOUTH CAVE

This “cave” hardly deserves the name of cave, but as previous writers gave it this designation the title is retained in this description. The cave is situated immediately under South Enclosure A , and it opens on to the actual brink of the south precipice, being approached from both west and east sides by a path built along the top slope of the precipice. It is formed by a large boulder 16 ft. high and 17 ft. long, and is between this boulder and the top of the precipice, the floor being the nat

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SOUTH PASSAGE

SOUTH PASSAGE

This passage is almost opposite the south end of Buttress Passage and leads from the East Passage to the edge of the south precipice, dividing South Enclosures A and B . It is 38 ft. long, from 1 ft. 6 in. to 2 ft. wide, and at each extremity has rounded ends on either side. The wall on the east side averages 3 ft. to 7 ft. in height, the highest being at the southern end. The wall on the west side averages 7 ft. to 12 ft. in height. The existence of this passage was, until July, 1902, unsuspect

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SOUTH ENCLOSURE B

SOUTH ENCLOSURE B

This enclosure is on the east side of South Passage , and overlooks the south precipice. Its area is 37 ft. from east to west, and 31 ft. from north to south. The wall on the north side is 16 ft. high, and 4 ft. 6 in. wide at 5 ft. from the floor, and is the best-built portion now remaining. It has three rounded entrances, one from South Passage and two from East Passage . Low walls of poor construction subdivide the enclosure into three compartments, but some portions of these walls are not bel

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SOUTH ENCLOSURE C

SOUTH ENCLOSURE C

This is on the north-east side of South Enclosure B , but on a level of some 6 ft. higher. The area is 41 ft. from east to west, and 19 ft. from north to south. The eastern wall curves outwards, and is 9 ft. high. The north side is formed by a large boulder, the west side by a raised parapet which is the eastern extremity of East Passage . There is one entrance only, and this is in the south-western corner. Here the south wall is very well built. A wall 3 ft. 6 in. high and 9 ft. long juts out s

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CENTRAL PASSAGE

CENTRAL PASSAGE

This passage connects Cleft Rock Enclosure and the Eastern Temple and forms the most direct communication between the western and eastern extremities of the Acropolis . This passage is practically the north-east extension of Pattern Passage , the two joining end on at the west entrance to the Eastern Temple . Cliffs and huge boulders form the main portion of its sides. Its length is 76 ft., and its width varies from 3 ft. to 4 ft. 6 in. There is a sharp rise of 6 ft. going west, at about half-wa

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THE EASTERN TEMPLE

THE EASTERN TEMPLE

THIS temple is situated at the most easterly part of Zimbabwe Hill Ruins, on the south side of the line of high cliffs and gigantic boulders which extend from the east to the west along the summit of the hill. The centre of the present surface of the interior of this temple is 222 ft. above the valley. The main wall is built on a wide curve towards the east extending 98 ft. from the south face of the cliff on the north side round to the south side, thus disposing the area in a quarter section of

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THE ANCIENT BALCONY

THE ANCIENT BALCONY

At the north-west end of the Eastern Temple , and at the highest point of the interior and immediately behind the higher of the terraced walls before described, fourteen steps, eight of granite cement and six of blocks, lead for 26 ft. in a north-westerly direction up a passage-way formed on the south side by a cliff, and on the north side by two large boulders. Each step is 5 in. high and extends back 18 in. The ascending passage is 7 ft. wide at its lowest part, and narrows to a creep-hole bet

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BALCONY ENCLOSURE

BALCONY ENCLOSURE

The length of this enclosure from north to south is 51 ft., and the average width from 15 ft. to 20 ft., the whole of the sides being formed by cliff and boulders, except on the north side, where a space between two large boulders has been built up by the ancients. This wall is 9 ft. long and 11 ft. high. The wall extending from the north-east corner of the Balcony , and on the north side, except for one short length, is not ancient. Local Makalanga state their people of some two or three genera

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BALCONY CAVE

BALCONY CAVE

At the west end of this enclosure is a steep descent of 36 ft. between two boulders into Balcony Cave formed by a cliff, the east face of which beetles over the descent. The cave is 19 ft. wide at the bottom and is very much filled in with wall débris, silted soil, and large scales of granite off the face of the overhanging rock. This cave formed an entrance into the Balcony Enclosure from the Rock Holes Path , which runs along the north-west face of the cliff, only on a very much lower level. A

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GOLD FURNACE ENCLOSURE

GOLD FURNACE ENCLOSURE

This enclosure is 12 ft. lower than the Eastern Temple , the outer face of the eastern main wall for 15 ft. forming its west side. On all other sides it is surrounded by cliff and boulders, a continuation of the north cliff of the Eastern Temple forming its north side. The area is 46 ft. from west to east, and 32 ft. from north to south. At the south-west corner is a chasm 14 ft. long, 2 ft. to 5 ft. wide, and 11 ft. high running between the front base of the temple wall and the west end of the

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UPPER GOLD FURNACE ENCLOSURE

UPPER GOLD FURNACE ENCLOSURE

This is situated at the north-east corner of the Gold Furnace Enclosure , but on a level of 4 ft. higher. Separating the two enclosures is a well-built wall 10 ft. long with a rounded entrance in the centre. The greatest width of this enclosure is 9 ft. at the entrance, and its length is 44 ft., but it is very narrow except for about 12 ft. in the middle of the length. The south end runs between and under boulders, while the north end includes a cave under the continuation of the cliff which for

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PATTERN PASSAGE

PATTERN PASSAGE

This passage runs for 51 ft. along the outside of the south and south-west portion of the curved main wall of the Eastern Temple . In the south-west portion the passage is 2 ft. wide, and formerly its floor throughout this section was level with that of the present floor of Recess Enclosure , but a large boulder at the west entrance to the Eastern Temple having slipped and disturbed the entrance walls, steps have recently been erected to enable visitors to climb over the débris heap. On the west

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RECESS ENCLOSURE[61]

RECESS ENCLOSURE[61]

This is an almost complete enclosure on the south side of the Eastern Temple , and separated from it by a deep and narrow passage, now known as Pattern Passage . Formerly a passage-way ran along the west side of the enclosure from north to south. The area of this enclosure is—south side, 17 ft. 6 in., north side 18 ft., west side 25 ft., and east side 20 ft. The surface shows signs of the enclosure having been filled in above its original floor by some later occupiers. The south wall has collaps

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NORTH PLATEAU

NORTH PLATEAU

This plateau is situated to the north of the Eastern Temple and at the north of the cliffs, which form its north-east and north sides. Its shape is that of a quarter of a circle—the east side being formed by cliffs running towards the north-east, and the south side by huge boulders running out towards the north-west, the apex being at the north end of the North Passage of the Eastern Temple . The area from north to south is 67 ft., and from east to west 53 ft., the outer and open side being supp

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NORTH PARAPET

NORTH PARAPET

This structure is at the outer and northern base of the large curved main wall of the Western Temple , on which are the small towers and monoliths, where it curves towards the north-east and runs parallel with it for 44 ft. In this parapet is a rising passage with steps leading from the North-West Ancient Ascent up to the main wall, where it once passed through it and curved into Platform Enclosure where it can still be walked along. The point where this passage went through the main wall has be

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NORTH-WEST ANCIENT ASCENT

NORTH-WEST ANCIENT ASCENT

UNFORTUNATELY in describing this ascent it is necessary to commence at the summit and work downwards instead of upwards. The amount of débris which covered its lower lengths precluded the tracing of the ascent from below, and further it is only the higher lengths which have been cleared out, though now the lower parts can be easily followed. The ascent begins at the Water Gate at the north-west base of the hill, and terminates at The Platform which overlooks the Eastern Temple on the Acropolis.

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THE WATER GATE RUINS

THE WATER GATE RUINS

This is situated at the lowest extremity of the North-West Ancient Ascent to the Acropolis, and forms its approach and entrance from the valley on the west and north sides of Zimbabwe Hill. It has been styled the Water Gate on account of there being immediately in front of it a large donga (water-hole), one of the chain of dongas which run round the hill from the south-west to the north-east, and are believed to be artificial, but have become reduced from the original area and depth by the silti

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TERRACED ENCLOSURES ON NORTH-WEST FACE OF ZIMBABWE HILL

TERRACED ENCLOSURES ON NORTH-WEST FACE OF ZIMBABWE HILL

About forty or fifty ledges protrude in step form up the north-west face of Zimbabwe Hill from the valley below up to the front of the west main wall of the Western Temple , and these projections are not only upwards in terrace form, but broadways, extending across the entire length of the north-west face of the hill. The best view of these ledges is obtained from Makuma Kopje , on which is Mogabe’s kraal. From this point it is seen that these projections must have been artificially made. So gre

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SOUTH TERRACE

SOUTH TERRACE

This is a natural ledge of ground artificially improved, running east at the foot of the south precipice for 200 yards from the foot of the Rock Passage , and extending beyond the point where the most easterly ruins of the Acropolis are built along the summit cliff. This terrace is supported on its south side by several retaining walls. Almost all the enclosure walls along this terrace have been demolished by the falls of great masses of walls from the ruins on the summit of the cliff. Barely th

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THE “OUTSPAN RUINS”

THE “OUTSPAN RUINS”

These ruins, which lie 75 yds. to the north of Havilah Camp, are on the outspan in the valley which runs along the south side of Zimbabwe Hill, and also on the path leading from the camp to the South-East Ancient Ascent. This block of ruins was entirely cleared out of wall débris and silted soil in September, 1902, and now visitors may walk upon what was practically the ancient floor. The cement which once formed the floor has become decomposed to granite sand, and owing to the enclosures of the

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POSSELT RUINS

POSSELT RUINS

These ruins are the most westerly of the lower section of The Valley of Ruins . They consist of two almost oval-shaped buildings adjoining each other, and for the purposes of this description are marked A and B respectively on the plan. This set of ruins lies at the north-east extremity of the North-East Passage leading from the Elliptical Temple . A is 175 ft. long from north to south, and 91 ft. from east to west. B lies at almost right angles to A on its south-west side, and is 110 ft. from e

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SECTION A OF POSSELT RUINS

SECTION A OF POSSELT RUINS

Main walls. —The main walls average from 7 ft. to 12 ft. in height above the surface of the veld, while the height of the interior faces, which are some 3 ft. above the outside level, averages 6 ft. to 9 ft. The great amount of wall débris at the foot of the walls suggests an original average height of at least 15 ft. above the cement floors. Some practical builders have computed it to have been almost 20 ft., and the batter-back would permit of this. The average of 15 ft. is a very conservative

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POSSELT RUINS. SECTION B

POSSELT RUINS. SECTION B

This lies to the west of Section A of the Posselt Ruins , which it immediately adjoins on its south-west side and practically forms part of the same ruins. Its area is 110 ft. from east to west, and 75 ft. from north to south, and is oval in plan. The construction of the walls is excellent, and this section appears to be one of the earliest period ruins. Its central portion has been filled in, and some of the walls dividing off the enclosures are still buried beneath the débris. There are no sig

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PHILIPS RUINS

PHILIPS RUINS

These ruins lie to the east of the Posselt Ruins , which they almost adjoin, being only 8 yds. apart at their nearest points. These ruins present several most interesting features:— (1) The discovery (March, 1903) of the finest, most perfect, and most elaborately decorated soapstone beam with bird on summit yet found at Great Zimbabwe , also of phalli and beaten gold. (2) An excellently constructed and massive wall, built upon the plan of a section of a circle, with its centre facing due east, a

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MAUND RUINS

MAUND RUINS

These ruins, though not extensive, appear to have been of some importance. They are situated at a distance of 60 yds. from the east-north-east side of Philips Ruins, and lie almost half-way between those ruins and the East Ruins. Their construction is excellent, and the walls are massive, while all the entrances are rounded, most having possessed a pair of granite lintel beams. Although built upon by far the lowest level of any ruin at Zimbabwe, it is the least filled-in, either naturally or art

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RENDERS RUINS

RENDERS RUINS

These are the best-defined ruins of the Middle Section of the Valley of Ruins, are of better construction, and have walls still standing of a fairly good height. All the other ruins in this section are almost, if not quite, impossible to trace, and a view of them gives the impression that they are of much later construction than the Renders Ruins. These ruins, which lie east and west, cover an area of 300 ft. from east to west, and 200 ft. from north to south. They lie within 30 yds. of the sout

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MAUCH RUINS

MAUCH RUINS

These are well-defined ruins, and they form part of the Upper Section of “The Valley of Ruins,” and are situated on the north-east of the north-east extremity of the chevron pattern on the Elliptical Temple at a distance of 105 yds. They occupy the granite plateau on the edge of steep ground overlooking the Middle and Lower Sections of “The Valley of Ruins.” The plan and the excellently constructed portions of some of the walls, and the class of relics found here in 1903, when these ruins were p

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SOUTH-EAST RUINS

SOUTH-EAST RUINS

These ruins are situated at the south-eastern extremity of the Zimbabwe Ruins’ area where the Valley of Ruins terminates on its eastern side, and are only ten minutes’ walk from Havilah Camp. They occupy a summit of a bare and rounded kopje, commanding most extensive views of the country beyond Schlichter Gorge to the south and of the Arowi district towards the east-north-east. Its position is highly strategetic, and there is a steep descent on the south-west side into a deep gorge, down which t

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NO. 1 RUINS

NO. 1 RUINS

THESE ruins, which are of an important character, lie on the north side of the Elliptical Temple at a distance of 63 yds. from the north-west entrance to that building, with which it is connected by a substantial and well-constructed wall running out due north from the north-west outer face of the main wall of the temple at 43 ft. west from the north-west entrance and at the points [705 ft.] and [710 ft.]. Visitors would know this ruin as the one which lies back on the left-hand side of the path

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RIDGE RUINS

RIDGE RUINS

These ruins are situated on the highest point of the bare granite ridge which extends from the north-west of the Elliptical Temple towards the north-west, and curves towards the north, where it terminates at Havilah Camp . The southern extremity of these ruins is 140 yds. from the north-west side of the Elliptical Temple and 100 yds. west of No. 1 Ruins . The path from the outspan and camp to the water springs and the Elliptical Temple passes close to its west side, while another path to the Tem

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CAMP RUINS NO. 1

CAMP RUINS NO. 1

Camp Ruins Nos. 1 and 2 lie north and south respectively of the Shangani Grave, which separates them, the huts of the camp being built on the north and wrest sides and within a few feet of the remains of Camp Ruins No. 1, which is Sir John Willoughby’s No. 3 Ruins in his Further Excavations at Zimbabye , 1892. Sir John describes this ruin as follows:— “Previous to my arrival, the only trace of ruins here was one small stone buttress on the eastern side. My original intention was to find any wall

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CAMP RUIN NO. 2

CAMP RUIN NO. 2

This ruin lies 50 ft. south of Camp Ruins No. 1, and is on the same knoll, the two being separated from each other by the Shangani graveyard. Sir John Willoughby writes:— “I carefully attacked Ruin No. 2, but with a disappointing result. It merely appears to be an enclosure formed by an irregular outside wall, varying in thickness and in the depth of its foundations. In tracing this wall, the bed-rock was occasionally exposed at a depth of 3 ft. The only ‘finds’ here were two small pieces of sea

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EAST RUINS

EAST RUINS

THESE ruins lie 20 yds. to the south of the Motelekwe Road at 550 yds. east of Havilah Camp, and face the east end of the Acropolis Hill at a distance of 300 yds. south. They occupy a rise overlooking the Valley of Ruins, and are built upon an open granite glacis which originally formed its floor. Their elevated and strategetic position at once claim the attention of visitors. These ruins have always been written and spoken of as being a fort for the defence of the east side of the Valley of Rui

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OTHER RUINS WITHIN THE ZIMBABWE RUINS’ AREA

OTHER RUINS WITHIN THE ZIMBABWE RUINS’ AREA

Bentberg (Matusu). —This kopje, which is 240 ft. above the threshold of the West Entrance to the Elliptical Temple, lies immediately south and south-west of the temple. Only 200 yds. separate the building from the foot of the hill. Here are many signs of very old occupations in the form of ruined terrace walls apparently of the Zimbabwe style, but of a very late period. The local Makalanga state that though their predecessors of the same race have had kraals on this hill, the terrace walls are n

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RUIN NEAR CHENGA’S KRAAL

RUIN NEAR CHENGA’S KRAAL

This is situated one mile and a quarter east of Havilah Camp, and is the most easterly ruin of the Zimbabwe group. It stands upon a low ledge on the west side of the Beroma Range, and is a quarter of a mile west of Chenga’s kraal, and directly overlooks the Mapudzi stream, which flows at about 60 ft. immediately below the west face of the ruin. The position is strategetic and affords a view over several valleys. The area covered by walls and stone débris is fully an acre and a half, but the actu

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CHENGA’S AND MADAVID PATH RUINS

CHENGA’S AND MADAVID PATH RUINS

These ruins are in a valley which runs north and south on the Beroma Range at one mile distance south-east of Chenga’s kraal, and lie a few yards to the west of the native path leading from Chenga’s to Madavid’s kraal. Madavid is the native name for David, a Basuto, who lives near. The area covered is fully a third of an acre on the summit of a knoll, which rises some 30 ft. above the valley. Traces of walls covering an area of an acre and a half are to be seen on the south, west, and north side

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MAPAKU, OR “LITTLE ZIMBABWE” RUINS

MAPAKU, OR “LITTLE ZIMBABWE” RUINS

These ruins are situated at a distance of seven miles south-east of Zimbabwe, and occupy a position overlooking the Motelekwe Valley, and are on the eastern side of the lower shoulders of the southern extremity of the Beroma Range. On the south side of the ruins the ground falls in the direction of the Motelekwe River, which here flows south to south-west of the ruins at the distance of about a mile. The Mapaku kraal is a quarter of a mile north-west of the ruins. At the village are some caves (

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NOTE A GREAT ZIMBABWE

NOTE A GREAT ZIMBABWE

1. The only outspan is between Havilah Camp and the south side of the Acropolis Hill. 2. No trees or bush on the Zimbabwe reserve to be cut by visitors or their native servants. Cut firewood is provided on the outspan. 3. No visitor shall take into any ruin any spades or other tools for the purpose of prospecting for relics or gold, or use the same within the reserve. No excavated soil shall be panned, nor any stones removed from the ruins. Surveys can only be made on the written authority of th

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NOTE B ROBERT M. W. SWAN

NOTE B ROBERT M. W. SWAN

We regret to record the death, which took place on March 26th last, of Mr. R. M. W. Swan, well known for his share in the earlier investigations of the ruins of Mashonaland. Mr. Swan was born in 1858, and after receiving a technical training in Glasgow University and in the laboratory of Mr. R. Tattock, went out to Spain in 1878 in the capacity of a mining expert. In 1879 he went to Greece, and the next seven years were spent in mining work, principally in Antiparos and neighbouring islands. In

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NOTE C NOTE ON OLD POTTERY FOUND AT DEPTH AT RENDERS RUINS, GREAT ZIMBABWE, JULY, 1903

NOTE C NOTE ON OLD POTTERY FOUND AT DEPTH AT RENDERS RUINS, GREAT ZIMBABWE, JULY, 1903

This “find” consists of pottery of a very good quality about a quarter of an inch thick, but covered with a most excellent glaze of blue, white, and gold enamel, the white forming the background. There are at least four bands of pattern which encircled a large open bowl. No. 8 is a part of the rim, which was straight. No. 1 appears by its form to have been portion of the upper band; Nos. 2, 4, 5, 6, and 7 the second band; No. 9 the third band; and a decoration of palm fronds, in brown paint and

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NOTE D ZIMBABWE RUINS

NOTE D ZIMBABWE RUINS

[Extracted, by permission, from the Reports (1900–1902) of the British South Africa Company.] I arrived at Victoria on the 23rd May, and left for Zimbabwe the following morning. On inspecting the ruins I found the interior of the Elliptical Temple one impenetrable jungle of trees, bushes, creepers, tall grass (6 to 10 ft.), and decayed tree stumps and branches, so that it was impossible to see beyond a few feet, while the surface of the ground was most irregular and thickly covered with wall déb

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NOTE E

NOTE E

[Extracted from Report presented to the Chief Secretary, Government Offices, Salisbury, Rhodesia, November, 1903.] Zimbabwe, Acropolis Ruins. —I regret having to report that the slanting granite beam on the platform at the Western Temple of the Acropolis Ruins has fallen and is fractured. This happened during the heavy thunder and rain storms of last week. The discovery of its fall was made to-day by Mr. Molyneux (Scientific Association, Bulawayo), Mr. Herbert Hayles (Sheriff of Victoria), and m

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NOTE G FORMATION ROCK UNDER ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

NOTE G FORMATION ROCK UNDER ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

No. 1 Hole. —No. 5 Enclosure. 6 yds. south-east of west entrance. 3 ft. 10 in. diameter. 9 in. to 12 in., burnt clay floor (pinkish), 2 in. layer of small stones. Below floor, bright yellow granite sand, set very hard, contains no stones. On north side to 3 ft. depth, old trench of prospectors, filled in with blocks and red soil. Formation rock exposed at 8 ft. 7 in., and this has a fall of 1½ in. in 3 ft. 10 in. towards east. Surface of bed-rock is rough and decomposed to a depth of ⅓ of an inc

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