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)
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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
(1) The ordinary clay ruins of a present-day Makalanga hut, with clay
floors, butt-ends of side poles still in position, clay ruins on floor
marking off the fire-place, the stand for pots, the higher floor for
sleeping-place of occupants and the lower floor for goats. These are
found on the present surface or immediately under black leaf mould
soil, and resemble huts built in local kraals, only they are neater,
of better make, and of slightly superior quality of clay. The articles
found here are similar to those belonging to present Makalanga.
(2) The foundations of huts with large rims of clay with rounded
edges on both sides, the diameter being some 9 ft. to 12 ft., and the
rims 16 in. in length and about the same width, the poles being fixed
along the centres of the rims. The material in the floor and in the
rim is of a superior quality of clay, which builders state it would
be misleading to describe as cement. Under the clay floors, which are
about 3 in. thick, are platforms of stones laid flatwise in three or
four courses, the outer faces of the courses receding from 1 in. to 3
in. behind the faces of the courses below. Sometimes the stonework is
laid upon a bed of clay. This class of hut is found upon a lower level
than the undoubted Makalanga dwelling. In the Eastern Temple this type
of remains was uncovered at a depth of 3 ft. below the surface, and
there were no less than two clay floors, each with a layer of ashes,
and two granite cement floors below it. These can be seen in the trench
made alongside the stone foundation. Glass beads of old make, copper
spearheads, and thick copper bangles, beaten copper and copper tacks
were among the principal finds discovered in this type of building.
In and near such remains were found the four double iron gongs (May,
1902-March, 1903), piles of animal bones split open in ordinary Kafir
style for marrow, broken pottery, and quantities of ashes.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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