David Beach believes that the city and its state, the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, flourished from 1200 to 1500, although a somewhat earlier date for its demise is implied by a description transmitted in the early 1500s to João de Barros.
Daɣid Bea əh aɣel as aɣr əm əd dakal ənes, taɣr əm tan Zimbabwe, ikasan 1200 əd 1500, ahusken as alwaq əndiran aruwan fal ibanes taqalat fal asitbat ən salan ədosanene daɣ santo ən wityan 1500 daɣ João wan Barros.