Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia: An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of RhodesiaHall, R. N. (Richard Nicklin)
History
Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia: An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of Rhodesia
Hall, R. N. (Richard Nicklin)
Great Zimbabwe (Extinct city); Zimbabwe -- Antiquities
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 collection of finds was a deep bed of soil silted by rains
from higher ground, and on this surface were fragments of a Makalanga
clay floor broken up by the roots. The Arab traders gave the first
description of these ruins to the Portuguese, and Barbosa (1514), De
Barros (1552), and Livio Sanuto (1588), mention the existence of Great
Zimbabwe on the strength of information concerning it received from the
Arab gold and ivory traders.
In all probability this was an Arab trading centre of mediæval times,
and by “taking stock” of the barter goods, some corroboration of this
suggestion may be obtained. The “stock in trade” consisted of:—
2 pints of small yellow and green glass beads which are unknown
to present natives.
1 pint of similar beads of larger size, also unknown to present
natives.
100 (at least) porcelain beads, ribbed, and of sea-green
colour, also unknown to natives.
15 lbs. of twisted iron wire-work in large coils for making
bangles, and cut up into lengths for bangles.
5 lbs. of twisted brass flat wire in large coils also, not cut
into lengths for bangles.
5 lbs. of twisted brass rounded wire, ditto.
4 doz. brass flat wire bangles and a great quantity of
fragments of other bangles.
Cowrie shells.
The mediæval traders might have received the following from the
natives:—
2 elephant tusks (decayed).
2 wart-hog tusks.
20 (about) pieces of beaten gold.
Several pieces of broken gold-wire bangles.
As the Arabs traded for gold produced by the natives, and also for
ivory, no doubt they or the natives would fossick in the ruins, then
much clearer of débris, for gold which they or the Arabs might have
known was to be found in the enclosures. The beaten gold was all found
within a few inches, and though its edges were pierced with tack-holes,
pannings of the soil showed no gold tacks. As the Makalanga of those
times were at their zenith of power, it is quite possible they did the
actual searching themselves, and then parted with their finds to the
Arabs, who, as history shows, only occupied the land on sufferance, the
Arabs making their usual gain, which, according to Barbosa, was “one
hundred for one.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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