This Iron Age site, the symbol and namesake of modern Zimbabwe, lies 17 miles south-east of Masvingo and is the remains of an extensive town built between 1200 and 1450 AD. The word 'zimbabwe' (plural madzimbabwe) is derived from the Shona words dzimba dza mabwe and means 'houses of stone'.
Archaeologists and historians believe that from the 13th to 15th centuries Great Zimbabwe was the capital for a large area in southern Africa. Throughout this region there are smaller but similar madzimbabwe. The site Great Zimbabwe covers over 1779 acres and comprises mainly stone wall enclosures and areas of hut remains.
The two main geographical areas of stone wall enclosures are: the Hill Complex, on the long, steep-sided granite hill that rises 262 feet above the surrounding ground; and the land below this hill where the Valley Enclosures and the Great Enclosure are situated. The stone walls, up to 19.7 feet thick and 36 feet high, are built of granite blocks without the use of mortar.
Natural granite boulders are often incorporated into a wall which usually follows a curved line. The purpose of the walls was primarily to enclose areas within which dhaka (clay) structures and smaller partition walls were constructed. Two main wall styles have been identified from the major building period at Great Zimbabwe (see Zimbabwe Tradition).
The building stone was obtained locally from the numerous large granite hills in the area. The weathering of the rock causes it to exfoliate in layers usually between 2.4 inches and 7.9 inches thick, which subsequently break down into parallel-sided slabs.
The earliest 'undressed' masonry, dated to the 13th century, is built from these slabs; the 14th century masonry is composed of 'dressed' blocks deliberately chipped to the required shape and size. The junctions of the walls are not bonded together; instead, each wall leans slightly against another.
Inside the enclosures there is evidence that some of the walls and ground surfaces were originally plastered with dhaka (mud).
This roughly oval area, about 328 by 148 feet, includes rocky outcrops and large granite boulders. There is a series of enclosures connected by narrow stone-built passages. Many of the walls date to the earliest building style and it has been suggested that the Hill Complex was probably always the main spiritual and religious centre of Great Zimbabwe.
The hill was approached from the west side by at least three routes, one of which is a steep and narrow ascent via a rock passage with the original entrance through the south wall above a 98.4 feet vertical cliff face. The largest hill enclosure is the Western Enclosure, with a main perimeter wall 26 feet high and 16.4 feet thick.
Originally, there were alternating turrets and monoliths equally spaced along the top of this wall. Within the enclosure valuable archaeological data was destroyed in the early 20th century during uncontrolled excavation and widespread general clearance. Small-scale excavations in 1958 in the peripheral area revealed that there was continuous occupation in the enclosure for about 300 years.
The accumulated stratigraphy showed that when old huts were destroyed the remains were levelled off and new huts built on top. Ceremonial spearheads, large soapstone bowls and gold objects were amongst the items found in here and it has been suggested that this was the home of the spirit medium or chief.
The eastern end of the hill, probably the main ceremonial area, comprises an enclosure 66 feet by 66 feet in which there is a series of man-made stone platforms that were originally encased in dhaka; overlooking the enclosure and the surrounding country is a natural 'balcony'.
At least 30 granite and soapstone monoliths were found in this enclosure, some of which were decorated with geometric designs and six of which were carved in the stylised shape of birds now known as the Zimbabwe Birds.
This is the largest single ancient structure south of the Sahara. The perimeter wall is 820 feet in circumference and 36 feet high, and it is estimated that nearly a million granite 