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
A trial hole sunk to a depth of 6 ft. below this cleared portion of
the temple area, or 9 ft. below the surface as it appeared in 1903,
showed in its sides the lines of several clay floors and the side of a
Kafir clay hut, now quite decomposed and soft. At the bottom of the
pit a rough pavement of closely-fitting stones of irregular shape and
size was come upon, and the articles found were identical with those
discovered at a higher level.
The clearing of the area also disclosed clay sides of huts with the
remains of short walls of stone radiating from the sides of the huts.
The wall which Mr. Bent considered might have been the “altar” was
found to be the radiating wall of a similar hut built upon a higher
level. These small radiating walls are a general feature of exceedingly
old native huts found at several places at Zimbabwe.
A large circular platform of granite cement was also disclosed. This
spot yielded beaten gold of native make.
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-built minor ruins have the appearance of greater
age, and some of the relics found in this class of ruins are of the
oldest type. No one who had not spent considerable time at Zimbabwe
could have any possible conception of the immense population present
here at a period of but a few centuries ago. The remains of their stone
walls are scattered thickly over the valleys and hillsides of Zimbabwe.
The Makalanga state these are all Makalanga of generations long passed
away. Some are constructions by indigenous peoples, and certainly they
are not ancient, though largely built of stones quarried from the
ancient ruins, and the “finds” are those of old native type, including
Arab articles.
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.
PLAN OF ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE
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