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

NUMBER OF MONOLITHS STILL MORE OR LESS ERECT

The number of monoliths still erect, or which have fallen, is as follows, but the number may be further increased as the débris at the bases of the temple walls is examined:—

At Elliptical Temple.—Nine granite monoliths still erect, nine fallen; no slate monoliths erect, five fallen; two granite monoliths, one of which is fractured, stand in No. 5 Enclosure.

At Eastern Temple, Acropolis.—There are no soapstone monoliths now standing, but a considerable number of sections of slate and soapstone monoliths, including bases, were found in the débris. Mr. Posselt, who resided at Zimbabwe before the Chartered Company took possession of the country, states that in 1888 three soapstone beams, with birds on their summits, were standing in the interior of the left-hand side of the West Entrance, and one at the northern end of the summit of the main east wall, on which is the dentelle pattern. The three beams stood on a small raised platform, and as this temple was then used as a cattle kraal, the cattle rubbed against them and eventually pushed over the beams.

At Western Temple, Acropolis.—There are twelve slate and four granite monoliths still standing on the walls, and four slate monoliths, three still intact, have been found in wall-débris. Originally those on the south and west walls were exactly equi-distant. Bent found and removed several sections of different soapstone monoliths, both decorated and plain, but he found no soapstone bird in this temple. In 1891 the lower portion of a soapstone bird was discovered and taken to Johannesburg, and its whereabouts are at present unknown. In August, 1902, the head and neck of this same bird were found, as also a length of the beam upon which it stood, and this is beautifully carved with chevron pattern. This beam originally stood on the summit of the north wall.

All slate monoliths are plain, but many of those of slate have been rounded with tools of which they bear the markings.

Several monoliths have fallen since 1888. One immense granite beam which occupied an upright position immediately north of The Platform in the Elliptical Temple has disappeared since 1891. A monolith in the interior facing the Western Entrance has fallen within the last few years, while a tall granite beam at the same spot has broken off just above the ground within the same period. Another tall granite beam occupied the Central Area in the temple, and this has also disappeared within the last seven years.[44] Relic prospectors of the nineties appear to have excavated round the spots occupied by monoliths and caused their fall.

The finest specimen of a bird on a soapstone beam yet discovered at Zimbabwe was found by the author in Philips Ruins in February, 1903.