3. COPPER ARTICLES
Discoveries of copper in several forms are made on intermediate and higher levels. So far no copper article has been found by any explorer at Zimbabwe which could be claimed as being ancient, though doubtless the ancients worked also in copper, and it is quite probable that copper articles made in pre-Kafir times may yet be found. Such copper articles as have been found show a decided Kafir form, the copper battle-axes and barbed spearheads, bangles, beads, and wire-work closely resembling the iron articles still made by the natives, though of a somewhat superior design and make, and some of these in all probability, judging by their location and the associated finds, covered a period extending from mediæval times until comparatively a few years ago. The floors and immediate vicinity of native huts of the oldest construction yield copper articles abundantly, while later native floors have a larger percentage of iron articles.
Three pounds’ weight of thin and narrow strips of copper sheathing with tack-holes round the edges and copper tacks were found on one of the higher levels, and at a depth of several feet below were granite cement steps and buttresses of excellent construction. This sheathing had evidently covered some wooden article.
The copper used in most instances is pronounced to be pure metal and free from the usual alloys. The metal in these is of so pliable a nature that spearheads can be easily twisted by hand into almost any shape. One spearhead was copper and tin, but the latter was present in very small proportion. Several articles once thought to be bronze are now pronounced to be of copper only. A small piece of a bar of tin was found on an intermediate floor. Copper wire, mostly in the form of bangles, is very plentiful on intermediate floors, also large cakes of copper and copper slag, but so far the actual remains of copper-smelting furnaces in situ have not been met with at Zimbabwe, though judging by the amount of copper slag and copper ore found at the extreme east of the Acropolis ruins, copper-smelting was carried on in that locality during the period when the gold scorifiers made of native pottery were being used. Here were found portions of clay cupolas which had been used for copper-smelting, circular and deep, about the size of a small teacup. The fine and delicate copper chain found in Renders Ruins is believed to be of Arab origin, and used to suspend the lamp-holder found with it. Pieces of a small copper box, and several solidly made copper bangles, and copper finger-rings in snake form with the extremities coiled, were also found in Renders Ruins on the same level where the copper chain and several articles of Arab origin were discovered.