Portuguese traders heard about the remains of the medieval city in the early 16th century, and records survive of interviews and notes made by some of them, linking Great Zimbabwe to gold production and long-distance trade.
Imašanšan wən ɗortigaitan islan itawan adriš wan edag ən médiéɣal daɣ santo ən 16e temede nawatay, əd əley adriš nuguz əd salan am ətkalnen əs iyadaɣsan, wi taganen tanmitaft gar Grand Zimbabwe əd ukisawan nuraɣ əd hebutan ogignen.