Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia / An account of two years' examination work in 1902-4 on behalf of the government of Rhodesia

by R. N. Hall

NO. 9 ENCLOSURE

This enclosure lies to the north of the western end of Sacred Enclosure (west), to the east of No. 7 Enclosure, to the west of The Platform, and to the south of the south passage to No. 10 Enclosure and of No. 10 Enclosure.

Its area is: north side, 26 ft; west side, 26 ft.; east side, 42 ft.; and south side, 24 ft.

The south side is formed by the wall dividing this enclosure from Sacred Enclosure (west), and this is 9 ft. high, and shows the two classes of building as does the opposite side. The west side for 6 ft. from its south end is formed by a wall of this length, and which is 6 ft. high. This wall at its northern end terminates abruptly and leans northwards, being supported by a bank of soil débris. The rest of this side is formed by the bank of soil débris as far as the south passage to No. 10 Enclosure. The north side is formed by the south wall of that passage and of No. 10 Enclosure. The passage wall is 6 ft. high, and the enclosure wall 8 ft. high. The east side for 14 ft. from the south end is formed by The Platform, and a terraced wall projecting westwards for from 5 ft. to 7 ft. The rest of the eastern side was an open space, until recently covered with soil débris.

An entrance from Sacred Enclosure (west) is in the south-west corner, and this is described in the account of that enclosure. This entrance on the north side has two stone steps covered with granite cement. The entrance from No. 10 Enclosure is described in the account of the passage to that enclosure.

At the south side there is a mass of granite cement rendered shapeless by roots of trees and creepers, and also considerably decomposed by annual accumulations of rain-water, as this is the lowest part of the enclosure. Traces of rounded faces can be seen at several points in this cement.

On the eastern side the floor is made of granite cement. This is only 4 in. thick, and underneath it are several thin layers of floors made of granite cement.

It is believed that the angle between The Platform and the south wall once held “blind steps.” The quantity of decomposed granite cement found in this corner, together with traces of two steps on the terraced wall, rather confirms this belief.