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 blocks were used in its construction. The roughly oval-shaped structure encloses an area 262 feet by 180 feet and contains a number of stone features, including the Conical Tower.
The Great Enclosure evolved to its final state over the period of time during which Great Zimbabwe was a large town. Two high walls form the narrow parallel passage, 180 feet long, that allows direct access from the north entrance of the enclosure to the Conical Tower.
The inner wall of this passage was originally built as the perimeter wall; the massive outer wall was constructed later, surmounted by monoliths and decorated with two courses of chevron pattern high up on the external face in the area of the Conical Tower.
The Conical Tower, one of the last structures to be built in the Great Enclosure, is 33 feet high and 16 feet in diameter at the base, tapering to 6.5 feet at the top where, originally, there were an additional three courses of 'dentelle' decoration. It is solid, built of granite blocks throughout, and rests directly on the ground with no underlying chamber.
Its large size and seclusion behind an equally massive enclosure wall, together with the narrow passageway leading to it, indicate that it was an important structure. Next to it is a smaller tower, and similar examples are also found in other Valley Enclosures.
The purpose of the towers is unknown but as they seem to have had no functional use they were probably symbolic. Traditionally, the Conical Tower is said to represent a grain bin, symbolising good harvests and prosperity. The remains of stepped platforms and hut floors are found inside the Great Enclosure but most of the archaeological stratigraphy which would help explain its function and history was removed between 1890 and 1910.
It has been suggested that it was the chief's residence or a court for the chief's wives or a premarital initiation school.
It has been estimated that there were about 50 households within these stone wall enclosures.
The archaeological evidence suggests that these were the homes 