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

PLATFORM AREA

Immediately in front of and adjoining the Sacred Enclosure in which stands the Conical Tower, and overlooked by The Platform, is a large open area in the form of a bow, the rounded side—east and south-east—being formed by No. 9 Enclosure, The Platform, and Nos. 11, 12, and 13 Enclosures, while the straight side, from south-west to north-east, is formed by Nos. 7 and 10 Enclosures, a circular platform, and No. 13 Enclosure.

The area covered by this open space is 126 ft. from south-west to north-east and 51 ft. from east to west. This space had not been previously examined by any modern explorer. Nor does any published plan of the temple attempt to deal with it, it having been always left as an unmarked space.

Bent found a similarity between The Platform which overlooks this area from its east side and the Agora or platform-pulpit of the ancient temples in the Near East to which references are so frequently made in classic history, and he considered that this platform at Zimbabwe, especially in view of its position in front of the Conical Tower, was used for religious purposes, and that the open space immediately at its foot and in front of it most probably held the crowd of worshippers that might have been addressed from the elevated Platform.

The examination of this area in 1903 shows that Bent in 1891 made a very shrewd conjecture as to the nature of the area. Over twelve years ago and until 1903 the space held out a prospect of its containing under its surface any number of walls, for in the Elliptical Temple divisional walls and other structures are closely packed together. Now that the space for 126 ft. by 51 ft. has been cleared to a depth of from 4 ft. to 8 ft. following the lines of old cement floors which were completely buried, the space is shown to be actually an open area without walls or traces of walls of any sort crossing it at any point. Excepting such granite blocks as lined the bases of the boundary walls of this area, not ten hundred-weight of blocks were found, and these were scattered about at different heights and in almost every position in the soil débris which was removed.

In excavating this large space down to the floor which runs throughout the area at a similar level—a work occupying, forty native labourers for three months—“finds” of any antique character were only made on the cleared floor and not in the soil débris which was removed, and all such relics which included fragments of both plain and carved soapstone beams, gold plates, beads and wire, were about equally distributed over the whole area.

The most important architectural features disclosed in the clearing of this area were as follows:—

Drain from No. 10 Enclosure into this area.

A rounded terrace wall on the west side of The Platform.

Excellent granite cement dado work, several square feet being still intact.

Two massive granite cement steps leading up to the north entrance to the Sacred Enclosure.

The large granite cement steps leading up to the small platform in the angle formed by the north and east walls of No. 12 Enclosure.

Drain-hole in buttress in No. 12 Enclosure with large cement guides to lead water to it.

The suggestion made in description of the slight and poorly built east wall of No. 10 Enclosure that it was of later construction is confirmed.

CIRCULAR CEMENT PLATFORM WITH STEPS AND CARVED SOAPSTONE BEAMS, DISCOVERED 1903, ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

ENTRANCE TO INNER PARALLEL PASSAGE FROM SOUTH PASSAGE, ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

Circular granite cement platform with steps leading to summit.

This last-mentioned structure is worthy of more than a mere mention; as apart from its excellent construction and its position, its summit was found to be covered with soapstone beams, plain and decorated, while fragments of beams were lying all round its base. Near this spot numerous soapstone phalli, including one of very large size, were discovered.

This platform is 69 ft., N. 20, from the north face of the Conical Tower measured through the centre of the north entrance to the Sacred Enclosure. It has a circumference of 30 ft. 6 in., and is from 2 ft. 4 in. to 2 ft. 8 in. in height, with a rounded bevel at base 3 in. high and projecting 6 in. There are two boldly rounded steps, each 8 in. high, on the east side, and on the east side of the steps is a low cement parapet. This platform occupies a somewhat isolated position. Its summit was found to be buried for at least 2 ft. in soil. Close to the north side was a large tree, judged to have been almost one hundred years old. The roots of the tree had arched over and also encircled the structure, and so had preserved it. The roots had attempted to penetrate the cement, but failing to do so they passed completely round its face, and when cut away they were almost all semi-circular in shape.