10. A MEDIÆVAL ARAB TRADING STATION

One of the most interesting discoveries recently made was at Renders Ruins in the Valley of Ruins. In a corner of one of the enclosures of these ruins, and at some depth, and all within a few feet, were found the glazed pottery with Arab lettering, an iron lamp-stand and copper chain, an iron spoon of great age, copper snake-rings (pronounced not to be of native make), and several other articles suggesting some far back period of an Arab occupation, most probably of mediæval times. Over this collection of finds was a deep bed of soil silted by rains from higher ground, and on this surface were fragments of a Makalanga clay floor broken up by the roots. The Arab traders gave the first description of these ruins to the Portuguese, and Barbosa (1514), De Barros (1552), and Livio Sanuto (1588), mention the existence of Great Zimbabwe on the strength of information concerning it received from the Arab gold and ivory traders.

In all probability this was an Arab trading centre of mediæval times, and by “taking stock” of the barter goods, some corroboration of this suggestion may be obtained. The “stock in trade” consisted of:—

2 pints of small yellow and green glass beads which are unknown to present natives.

1 pint of similar beads of larger size, also unknown to present natives.

100 (at least) porcelain beads, ribbed, and of sea-green colour, also unknown to natives.

15 lbs. of twisted iron wire-work in large coils for making bangles, and cut up into lengths for bangles.

5 lbs. of twisted brass flat wire in large coils also, not cut into lengths for bangles.

5 lbs. of twisted brass rounded wire, ditto.

4 doz. brass flat wire bangles and a great quantity of fragments of other bangles.

Cowrie shells.

The mediæval traders might have received the following from the natives:—

2 elephant tusks (decayed).
2 wart-hog tusks.
20 (about) pieces of beaten gold.
Several pieces of broken gold-wire bangles.

As the Arabs traded for gold produced by the natives, and also for ivory, no doubt they or the natives would fossick in the ruins, then much clearer of débris, for gold which they or the Arabs might have known was to be found in the enclosures. The beaten gold was all found within a few inches, and though its edges were pierced with tack-holes, pannings of the soil showed no gold tacks. As the Makalanga of those times were at their zenith of power, it is quite possible they did the actual searching themselves, and then parted with their finds to the Arabs, who, as history shows, only occupied the land on sufferance, the Arabs making their usual gain, which, according to Barbosa, was “one hundred for one.”

It might well be asked why these old Arabs left their goods behind them. The fickle policy of successive Monomotapas might be a sufficient explanation of their apparently hasty exodus. According to Portuguese records Kapranzine, the Monomotapa in 1620, sided with the Portuguese as against the local Arabs, and the succeeding Monomotapa “Pedro” in 1643 maintained this policy. But the disappearance of the Arab traders from Renders Ruins will in all probability always remain an unsolved enigma. But one question may be asked with regard to the beads found here—Were they “beads of Cambay”?

A large piece of coral still in perfect condition was found with the Arab articles. It has been stated, with what truth the author cannot say, that finely ground coral powder makes an excellent metal polish, and that the Arabs and Indian metal-workers on the coast use it for this purpose. Certainly the Arab traders up country would constantly require to refurbish their brass goods, and so keep them attractive for sale to the natives. Fragments of coral have been found in other ruins at Zimbabwe, also at ruins in different parts of Southern Rhodesia very much further inland from the coast than is Zimbabwe.

Section of Floors of part of
No. 6 ENCLOSURE
Elliptical Temple
looking South-East & shewing locations of “Finds” (1902–3)

CHAPTER VII
NOTES ON ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE AT GREAT ZIMBABWE[40]

Introduction—Durability of Walls—Dilapidations—Makalanga Walls within the ruins—Remains of Native Huts found in Ruins—Passages—Entrances and Buttresses.

SINCE 1892, when the late Theodore Bent published his work on The Ruined Cities of Mashonaland, and 1893, when Sir John Willoughby issued his monograph on Further Explorations at Zimbabwe, though much has been discovered concerning the varying architectural types of ancient ruins throughout Southern Rhodesia, little has been added to our previous meagre store of information concerning the important group of ruins at Great Zimbabwe.

But in the work now in progress of preserving these ruins from preventable decay and dilapidation, and of clearing away the block débris from the faces of the walls and the huge piles of soil débris deposited within the ruins by a long succession of explorers, both authorised and unauthorised, there have been within the last two years rescued from oblivion many important architectural features, the existence of which was altogether unsuspected by previous writers. Many of the interiors of the ruins are now exposed to view, thus enabling examinations, comparison, and measurements to be taken which before had been altogether impossible. Within the last eighteen months Zimbabwe has revealed many of the long-buried secrets of the ancient architects which were hidden from the eyes of Bent, Schlichter, and other scientific explorers of the ruins.

Zimbabwe is stored with surprises for archæologists and antiquarians. Absorbing romance is buried deep below its floors. Its soil is richly charged with long-ungazed-at gold and prehistoric relics of high intrinsic value. The mysteries of the absence in Zimbabwe of any definite records in the form of inscriptions,[41] and also of the non-discovery within the Zimbabwe area of the burial-places of the ancients, have yet to be solved.

It has quite recently been held by scientists at home that the late discoveries of ancient ruins in Rhodesia, with their classifications into types and probable time-sequences and periods of distinct forms of architecture, have so advanced investigations in this country that, until similar work has been carried on among such of the ruins of Southern Arabia as are believed to synchronise with, or be the architectural prototypes of, the earliest of the Rhodesian monuments, it would be idle to speak dogmatically as to the lands of origin of the succession of ancient builders and gold miners who toiled so industriously in this portion of South-East Africa.

Still, but so far only as authentic discoveries have been made, the suggested occupation by the Sabæo-Arabians as outlined in chapter iii. of The Ancient Ruins of Rhodesia affords for the present a good working hypothesis for the student in Rhodesia whose aim should be to closely watch the operations of archæologists and antiquarians in the land of ancient Yemen, while at the same time recording with the utmost exactness and fullest detail all and every possible architectural feature of such of the ruins in Rhodesia as may fall within the description of the First Period of Zimbabwe

Architecture, of which the Great Zimbabwe is undoubtedly a most perfect example. This work will awaken the most piquant interest and fascination, for in this direction may be found the definite solution of our local problem as to which particular wave of the Semitic migrations is responsible for the erection of certain of our ruins.

That the Great Zimbabwe will be found to be pregnant with clues to solve the mystery is undoubted. Notwithstanding two years’ work in clearing the ruins of fallen walls and silted-in soil, nine-tenths of the ruins still remain practically buried. Sir John Willoughby, after spending two months in exploring the Elliptical Temple with a large staff of labourers, writes that it would take at least two years to complete the exploration of that building, and this without touching anything ancient or piercing ancient floors, but simply leaving the building clear of all débris and just in the same condition, save for dilapidations, as the last race of ancient occupiers knew it. If, therefore, the Elliptical Temple would require this amount of time to be spent upon it—and this is a fair estimate of work yet to be done—then the Acropolis ruins must require at least a further three years to be spent upon them, and this calculation does not include the large number of ruins in the Valley of Ruins, which, if situated elsewhere in the country, would be considered of major importance. But the area of the Zimbabwe ruins, as known to Sir John Willoughby, was only 945 yds. by 940 yds. To-day, after carefully searching the surrounding kopjes, kloofs, and valleys, other ruins and walls, and traces of ancient walls, can be found at a distance of a mile from the Elliptical Temple. The Bentberg has its northern face covered with walls. Rusivanga Kopje shows foundations of walls and débris. Near Bingura’s kraal, a mile to the south-west, is a ruin, while extensive beds of imported gold quartz—the nearest reef being some miles distant—with piles of ancient blocks are to be discovered after a grass fire in almost all directions within the distance of a mile, and fresh traces of old peoples, other than those early Makalanga, are to be met with in the course of almost every walk. Thus the probabilities of new and important discoveries are incalculably great.