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 coincides with the decline of Great Zimbabwe. The reasons for this decline are not clear but it has been suggested that the large population living here may have exerted ecological pressure on the immediate environment, leading to social, economic and political instability.
Further reading: Caton-Thompson, G. The Zimbabwe Culture, Ruins and Reactions Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1931; Garlake, P. S. Great Zimbabwe Thames and Hudson, London, 1973; Garlake, P. S. Great Zimbabwe Described and Explained Zimbabwe Publishing House, Harare, 1982; Hall, R. N. Great Zimbabwe Methuen, London, 1902; Hall, R. N. & Neal, W. G. The Ancient Ruins of Rhodesia Methuen, London, 1906; Mu-fuka, K. Dzimbahwe Life and Politics in the Golden Age 1100-1500 AD Harare Publishing House, Harare, 1983; Summers, R., Rob-inson, K. R. & Whitty, A. Zimbabwe excavations, 1958' in Occasional Papers of the National Museums of Rhodesia (vol 3, no 23A, 1961)