Great Zimbabwe (Nkami/Khami)

by lawrence | Apr 15, 2024 | News | 14 comments

Great Zimbabwe comprises expansive stone ruins of an Iron Age city situated in southeastern Zimbabwe, approximately 19 miles (30 km) southeast of Masvingo (formerly Fort Victoria). Covering about 200 acres (80 hectares), Great Zimbabwe stands as the largest among over 150 significant stone ruins dispersed across Zimbabwe and Mozambique.

Historically, it is estimated that the central ruins and the surrounding valley were home to a Shona population ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 individuals. The city thrived from the 11th to the 15th centuries, boasting an economy rooted in cattle husbandry, agriculture, and the trade of gold with the Indian Ocean coast. The name “Zimbabwe” itself, derived from the Shona (Bantu) word meaning “stone houses,” pays homage to this ancient city.

Great Zimbabwe is divided into three primary sections: the Hill Complex, the Great Enclosure, and the Valley Ruins. The Hill Complex, previously referred to as the Acropolis, is believed to have served as the spiritual and religious nucleus of the city. Perched atop a steep hill rising 262 feet (80 meters) above ground level, the Hill Complex features ruins sprawling 328 feet by 148 feet (100 meters by 45 meters), with walls up to 20 feet (6 meters) thick and 36 feet (11 meters) high, crafted from natural granite boulders and rectangular blocks.

South of the Hill Complex lies the Great Enclosure, recognized as the largest individual ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa. Encircled by an outer wall stretching some 820 feet (250 meters) in circumference and rising to a maximum height of 36 feet (11 meters), the Great Enclosure includes an inner wall leading to the mysterious Conical Tower, speculated to have served as a symbolic grain bin or phallic symbol.

Great Zimbabwe experienced a decline and subsequent abandonment during the 15th century. The decline saw the transfer of stoneworking and pottery-making techniques southward to Khami, which now also lies in ruins. European encounters with the ruins began in the 16th century, but serious archaeological interest emerged in the late 19th century, with explorers mistakenly linking Great Zimbabwe to legends of King Solomon’s mines and attributing its origins to ancient civilizations like the Phoenicians, Greeks, or Egyptians.

In 1905, archaeologist David Randall-MacIver concluded that the ruins were medieval and exclusively of African origin, a view confirmed by Gertrude Caton-Thompson in 1929. Great Zimbabwe’s cultural significance is further illustrated by the discovery of soapstone figurines shaped like birds, known as the Zimbabwe Bird, which later became a national symbol featured on the Zimbabwean flag.

In recognition of its historical importance, Great Zimbabwe was designated a national monument and a World Heritage site in 1986. Despite its significance, the site has faced challenges in securing adequate government funding for preservation and scientific research.