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

NOTE E

[Extracted from Report presented to the Chief Secretary, Government Offices, Salisbury, Rhodesia, November, 1903.]

Zimbabwe, Acropolis Ruins.—I regret having to report that the slanting granite beam on the platform at the Western Temple of the Acropolis Ruins has fallen and is fractured. This happened during the heavy thunder and rain storms of last week. The discovery of its fall was made to-day by Mr. Molyneux (Scientific Association, Bulawayo), Mr. Herbert Hayles (Sheriff of Victoria), and myself. No clearing or any other operations have been conducted here within a distance of twenty feet. Mr. Molyneux thoroughly agrees with me that the fall was perfectly natural.

The beam has for at least twelve years leant over at a severe angle, and now it can be seen that it was once perpendicular. The base was only fixed in the stonework for 1 ft. 8 in. The length of the beam from the base was 12 ft. 11 in., but this was longer by 2 ft. 4 in. some time previously to Mr. Theodore Bent’s visit in 1891.

The great marvel is that no one has been killed by its fall, for many visitors climbing to the platform have used the beam to assist in the ascent, and also in descending, and I have, as is well known, on scores of occasions warned them not to do so.

The beam in falling did but slight damage to the surrounding masonry. The portions of the beam are now laid together.

I have photographs of the platform, and showing this beam, taken from all points of the compass.

RICH^D. N. HALL,
Curator of Great Zimbabwe.

NOTE F
INVENTORY OF RELICS AND “FINDS” DISCOVERED BY THE AUTHOR AT GREAT ZIMBABWE IN 1902–3

No.	Article.	Where found.
1.	Gold wire bangle, 3½ oz.	South Terrace, Acropolis.
2.	Beaten gold round carbonised wood. A few gold tacks in the wood	Do.
3.	Head and neck of carved soapstone bird (the ninth yet discovered); believed to be the largest and best-preserved specimen	Western Temple, Acropolis.
4.	Fragment of carved soapstone bowl. Two horned animals	Do.
5.	Fragment of carved soapstone bowl. Herring-bone on cord pattern	South Enclosure, Acropolis.
6.	Fragment of carved soapstone bowl. Horned animal	Western Temple, Acropolis.
7.	Fragment of rim of carved soapstone bowl, cord pattern	South Enclosure, Acropolis.
8.	Two sections of large soapstone bowl; believed to be two of the three missing sections of bowl lent by the Right Hon. C. J. Rhodes to the Cape Town Museum	No. 2. Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
9.	Phallus in two sections; found broken; undecorated soapstone	Elliptical Temple.
10.	Phallus (section of), with “breast and furrow” pattern, which was an ancient symbol of fertility; soapstone	Do.
11.	Phallus (section of), found with true}Do. phalli; soapstone; undecorated.	Do.
12.	Phallus; soapstone	Do.
13.	Phallus (section of), “breast and furrow” pattern; soapstone	Do.
14.	Base of phallus; soapstone; found with true phalli	Do.
15.	Cut soapstone, plain, found with true phalli	Do.
16.	Phallus (section of, conjectured), found with true phalli; soapstone	Do.
17.	Soapstone amulet	Acropolis.
18.	Soapstone whorl	Elliptical Temple.
19.	Ten fragments of neck of carved soapstone vase	Do.
20.	Fragment of carved rim of soapstone bowl; cord pattern	No. 10 Enclosure, Acropolis.
21.	Carved soapstone bead	Elliptical Temple.
22.	Four pottery whorls and two fragments	Do.
23.	Serpentine stone, with veins of asbestos chrysotile (not chrysolithic, as stated by Mr. Bent); not ordinary asbestos, but similar to Canadian. Veins have decomposed before body of stone	Western Temple, Acropolis.
24.	Do.	Do.
25.	Copper spearhead	Do.
26.	Two copper spearheads, broken	Do.
27.	Two iron ringed instruments, conjectured to have belonged to Arab colony once settled at Zimbabwe	Elliptical Temple.
28.	Two wedge-shape headed nails	Do.
29.	Beaten copper	Acropolis.
30.	Iron handle of double-pointed iron hand-pick	Elliptical Temple.
31.	Jasper stone with gold embedded. Found with burnishing stones	No. 10 Enclosure.
32.	Quartz pebble, showing visible gold; also artificially worn. Found with burnishing tools	Do.
33.	Quartz pebble, showing visible gold. Found with burnishing tools	Do.
34.	Collection of stone tools, artificially worn; some are burnishers. 3 ft. deep	Do.
35.	Fragments of soapstone beams; crude decorations	Acropolis.
36.	Collection of iron articles from depth in Elliptical Temple which has not been occupied as a Makalanga kraal for over sixty years	Elliptical Temple.
37.	Collection of seven fragments of soapstone bowls	Acropolis and Elliptical Temple.
38.	Section of soapstone mould	No. 7 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
39.	Cake of gold	North-East Passage.
40.	Stone, both water and artificially worn, showing gold on both sides. Found with burnishing tools	No. 10 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
41.	Flat stone showing gold on one side. Found with burnishing tools	Do.
42.	Three portions of crucibles, six clay scorifiers, one portion of clay lining of furnace, all showing gold in flux	No. 6 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
43.	Fragment of soapstone bowl, herring-bone pattern on cord	No. 1 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
44.	Fragment of soapstone bowl, herring-bone pattern on cord	No. 6 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
45.	Fragment of soapstone bowl, carved	No. 7 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
46.	Fragment of soapstone bowl, cord pattern	No. 6 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
47.	Fragment of large soapstone bowl, carved	Do.
48.	Section of soapstone mould; conjectured old Makalanga	Do.
49.	Do.	Do.
50.	Soapstone I-daha pipe bowl, carved; old Makalanga	Elliptical Temple.
51.	Soapstone amulet	No. 6 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
52.	Iron pincers; conjectured old Makalanga	Do.
53.	Iron gong; do.	Do.
54.	Do.	Do.
55.	Barbed copper spearhead	Western Temple, Acropolis.
56.	Twenty-three pottery whorls	On old Makalanga floors.
57.	Conjectured base of soapstone phallus, converted by old Makalanga into a crude mould	No. 6 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
58a. 58b. 58c.	Three sections of soapstone beams	Summit of main wall above chevron pattern, Elliptical Temple.
59.	Section of soapstone beam	Eastern Temple, Acropolis.
60.	Do.	Do.
61.	Do.	Do.
62.	Do.	Do.
63.	Do.	Do.
64.	Do. (showing tool marks)	Do.
65.	Section of cement cylinder with bevel round base. Age uncertain	Mauch Ruins.
66.	Beaten gold	Western Temple, Acropolis.
67.	Forked iron instrument, with six gold bosses riveted with gold; spiral grooves at base	Do.
68.	Beaten gold (2⅛ oz.)	Valley of Ruins.
69.	Phalli (8) and fragments of phalli	W. and E. Temples, Acropolis, and Philips Ruins.
70.	Fragments of rim of soapstone bowl carved with procession of horned animals. Pieces fit each other	No. 5 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
71.	Pottery animals (3); conjectured old Makalanga	No. 1 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
72.	I-daha pipe-bowls (2) of soapstone, carved; conjectured old Makalanga	No. 5 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
73.	Iron with gravitating holes for drawing wire; old Makalanga. These wire drawers were in use until a few years ago	No. 6 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
74.	Copper finger-rings (2); snake pattern	Renders Ruins.
75.	Copper sheathing (2 lbs.)	Western Temple, Acropolis.
76.	Single iron gong	Renders Ruins.
77.	Large piece of coral	Renders Ruins.
78.	Pottery whorls (200)	Old native floors.
79.	Double iron gongs (3 sets) and single gongs (2)	Upper floors.
80.	Serpentine stone	Elliptical Temple.
81.	Nozzle of blow-pipe	Do.
82.	Porcelain beads, unknown to present natives. 5 ft. deep	Western Temple, Acropolis.
83.	Pottery beads, unknown to present natives	Various ruins.
84.	Soapstone amulet or seal (?)	Renders Ruins.
85.	Block of solid copper	Do.
86.	Iron striker found with gong	Do.
87.	Quantity of fragments of carved soapstone. Ribbed pattern	Elliptical Temple.
88.	Fragments of rim of soapstone bowl carved with ring pattern. (These fit together)	Maund Ruins.
89.	Portion of carved soapstone beam converted into double claw-hammer shaped ingot moulds	Elliptical Temple.
90.	Soapstone phallus	Platform Area, Elliptical Temple.
91.	Copper barbed spearheads (2)	Platform Area, Elliptical Temple.
92.	Soapstone with gravitating holes	Renders Ruins.
93.	2⅛ oz. beaten gold, gold beads, gold bar, and gold wire
94.	Fifteen sections of soapstone beams (plain)	From near arc wall in Philips Ruins; also from circular cement platform in Platform Area, Elliptical Temple.
95.	Case of sections of soapstone bowls, plain and decorated	Elliptical Temple, Acropolis and Philips Ruins.
96.	Section of carved soapstone beam	No. 15 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
97.	Iron spoon	Renders Ruins.
98.	Iron lamp and stand (conjectured)	Do.
99.	Iron pick	Elliptical Temple.
100.	Iron pick and 2 handles	Do.
101.	Twisted iron wire in coils	Renders Ruins.
102.	Bar mould of soapstone	Elliptical Temple.
103.	Section of soapstone beam carved with maize pattern	Western Temple, Acropolis.
104.	Bundle of brass wire bangles	Renders Ruins.
105.	Three iron nails	Elliptical Temple.
106.	Ornamented iron spearhead	Western Temple, Acropolis.
107.	Bevelled cement	General.
108.	Spearhead	Renders Ruins.
109.	Two stone balls	Elliptical Temple.
110.	Collection of specimens of hoes, assegai-heads, arrow-heads, axes, and iron-work found in ruins
111.	Several pieces of worked soapstone
112.	Soapstone bird on beam	Philips Ruins.
113.	Packet of large gold beads, 1 in. fine gold chain, one single gold wire bangle, gold wire, and beaten gold	Various Ruins.
114.	Four soapstone phalli (one ornate) and two amulets	Philips Ruins.
115.	Two small bronze bells	Renders Ruins.
116.	Two large enamelled beads	Western Temple.
117.	Collections of copper ingots, copper bars, copper wire, copper bangles, and cakes of copper	Elliptical Temple, Renders Ruins, and Acropolis.
118.	Copper band 12 ft. 6 in. long and 1 in. wide	Renders Ruins.
119.	Box of Nankin china, sections showing plates of various sizes and designs	From most ruins.
120.	Portions of glass basin, engraved and hand-painted	No. 7 Enclosure, Elliptical Temple.
121.	Glazed pottery, with conjectured post-Koranic lettering	Renders Ruins.
122.	Fragments of Venetian glass	Do.
123.	Fragments of antique glazed earthenware, showing potter’s wheel marks	Do.
124.	Three fragments of antique pottery, glazed	Do.
125.	12 ft. fine copper chain	Do.
126.	Pottery nozzle of blow-pipe	Do.
127.	Fused brass wire	Do.
128.	Two iron instruments	Do.
129.	Bronze axe-head, and fractured bronze arrow-head	Western Temple.
130a.	Part of young lion’s jaw	Renders Ruins.
〃 b.	Large lump of resin	Do.
〃 c.	Wart-hog tusk	Do.
〃 d.	Two sections of glass prism	Do.
131.	Remains of antique copper box	Do.
132.	Oldest form of gold crucible, showing gold in flux	Exterior (west) of Elliptical Temple.
133.	Piece of slag showing gold	Do.
134.	Packet of sheets of beaten gold	Parallel Passage, Elliptical Temple.
135.	Several cases of duplicates of soapstone, iron, copper, and pottery articles	Various Ruins.

NOTE G
FORMATION ROCK UNDER ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

Examinations made by the Author, August, 1903

No. 1 Hole.—No. 5 Enclosure. 6 yds. south-east of west entrance.

3 ft. 10 in. diameter.

9 in. to 12 in., burnt clay floor (pinkish), 2 in. layer of small stones.

Below floor, bright yellow granite sand, set very hard, contains no stones.

On north side to 3 ft. depth, old trench of prospectors, filled in with blocks and red soil.

Formation rock exposed at 8 ft. 7 in., and this has a fall of 1½ in. in 3 ft. 10 in. towards east.

Surface of bed-rock is rough and decomposed to a depth of ⅓ of an inch, and can easily be chipped with pick.

Above formation rock is 1 ft. depth of granite sand, filled with flakes of decomposed granite from rock, and of deep orange colour.

Water passes along surface of bed-rock, and soil was damp and wet for 3 in. in depth.

No. 2 Hole.—No. 5 Enclosure. 6 ft. north-east of monoliths.

3 ft. 9 in. diameter.

1 ft. burnt clay floor and scattered blocks and granite chips, soil damp for 2 ft. and wet for a few inches above formation rock, which is decomposed and easily scaled.

Formation rock disclosed at 12 ft. 7 in., with fall of 7 in. in 3 ft. 6 in. towards E.N.E.

Sides show bright yellow granite sand set hard, and no stones.

No. 3 Hole.—South side of No. 5 Enclosure.

3 ft. 9 in. diameter.

6 in. burnt clay floor.

Sand red at top and yellow beneath; no stones.

Bed-rock covered with 1 ft. depth of decomposed granite with aphite chips, surface of rock rough and greatly decomposed; aphite chips.

Formation rock disclosed at 10 ft. 1 in. depth.

Fall of rock 4 in. in 3 ft. 4 in. towards east.

Bottom very wet.

No. 4. Hole.—Between No. 5 Enclosure and Central Area.

3 ft. 6 in. diameter.

9 in. burnt clay and small stones, forming bedding for clay.

2 ft. red veld soil.

1 ft. 8 in. decomposed granite above rock.

Rest bright yellowy and set hard.

Formation rock disclosed at 12 ft. 1 in. depth, showing fall of 3 in. in 3 ft. towards north and north-east.

Bottom very wet.

No. 5 Hole.—West side of No. 6 Enclosure.

At depth of 11 ft. no formation rock, but rods showed rock at 3 ft. 4 in. lower; unsafe to make hole deeper. Soil very wet.

No. 6 Hole.—East end of No. 6 Enclosure.

At depth of 14 ft. no sign of rock.

No. 7 Hole.—Centre of Platform Area.

At depth of 12 ft. no sign of rock; bottom wet.

No. 8 Hole.—Centre of Central Area.

At depth of 8 ft. no trace of rock. Hole passed through two clay floors, and below one granite cement floor.

The Central Area had previously been cleared to a depth of 5 ft. before hole was sunk.

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