of the more important people, while most of the population lived in huts set close together on the periphery of the enclosures. The population for the whole of Great Zimbabwe during its heyday is estimated at between 10 000 and 18 000. Within the Valley Enclosures are the remains of dhaka huts, platforms and small towers.
The seventh Zimbabwe Bird, now used as the National Emblem, was found in one of these Enclosures; in another enclosure a large hoard of iron and copper objects, beads and pottery was found. Many of these enclosure walls are built in the later style of walling, suggesting that the town layout in the valley changed with time, possibly to accommodate an increasing population.
Dating and origins
Despite several attempts by people to argue for an early external origin for Great Zimbabwe, no professional archaeologist has ever suggested anything except a local Shona origin for this site. In 1906 the archaeologist Randall MacIver suggested that it was of a relatively recent date and not of foreign origin.
This opinion was unpopular with most of the local white community and gave rise to heated debate, whereupon Gertrude Caton-Thompson was requested to investigate the site. By 1932, after detailed excavation, she showed conclusively that Great Zimbabwe was of African origin and less than 1 000 years old.
Her archaeological evidence was obtained from different areas within the site and was based on two criteria. Firstly, most artifacts were unquestionably of local production, while the few imported objects could be easily dated. Celedon pottery from early in the period of the Chinese Ming Dynasty (1384-1644) is one of the most frequent imports found at Great Zimbabwe.
Secondly, she excavated to natural soil or bedrock in all her areas and was thus able to obtain a complete stratigraphic sequence of material. At every level she found the remains of what had been an African way of life. These conclusions have been confirmed by the work of subsequent archaeologists.
Since the 1960s radiocarbon analysis has also provided several dates for Great Zimbabwe, ranging from the late 13th century to the early 15th century. Detailed study of the architecture of Great Zimbabwe shows that it is unique to this part of Africa.
At the end of the 19th century a Karanga settlement existed on the north side of the Hill Complex; at that time the Great Enclosure was called Imba Huru (Great House) and the Hill Complex alone was referred to as 'Zimbabwe' and considered a religious centre.
This has been directed towards answering social, economic and political questions not only about life at Great Zimbabwe but also throughout the large area of southern Africa over which Great Zimbabwe exerted such an influence.
Some smaller Zimbabwe Tradition ruins in this area are thought to have been the bases for local chiefs who would have paid tribute to the supreme chief at Great Zimbabwe. The economy of this state was undoubtedly strong but so far there is no evidence that it was founded on any one dominant factor.
Cattle may have played an important role in the economy. Large herds reared and maintained throughout the state would have been an important source of wealth. At Great Zimbabwe most of the animal bones from the rubbish heaps of the stone enclosures are those of young adult cattle, suggesting that this was an important source of meat for the inhabitants.
It has been suggested that the economy of Great Zimbabwe was founded on the gold trade but the archaeological evidence does not support this theory. Most gold from Great Zimbabwe has been recovered from the upper levels of archaeological deposits, indicating that gold was most prevalent well after the establishment of the town.
Although gold and ivory were being exchanged for cloth, beads and ceramics with East Coast traders, this was probably, in the main, after the establishment of the Great Zimbabwe state rather than a contributing factor to its initial development.
Great Zimbabwe was fully occupied for only about 300 years. The rise of the neighbouring states of Torwa and Mutapa coi