RENDERS RUINS
These are the best-defined ruins of the Middle Section of the Valley of Ruins, are of better construction, and have walls still standing of a fairly good height. All the other ruins in this section are almost, if not quite, impossible to trace, and a view of them gives the impression that they are of much later construction than the Renders Ruins.
These ruins, which lie east and west, cover an area of 300 ft. from east to west, and 200 ft. from north to south. They lie within 30 yds. of the south and south-west sides of Posselt Ruins, A and B, the intervening space, being full of outcrops of walls. On the south and south-west sides of these ruins is the Upper Section of the Valley of Ruins.
The most striking features of the Renders Ruins are (1) their complicated plan; (2) the banquette wall on the summit of the south wall of No. 3 Enclosure; and (3) the great amount of ancient gold, Arabian pottery and glass, and other relics discovered in No. 1 Enclosure.
The ruins are built upon the formation rock which slopes down from south-west to north-east, the floors of all the enclosures being the bed-rock itself, and this has such a steep gradient that at some points it makes it difficult for those wearing nailed boots to ascend from the lower to the higher portions of the ruins.
These ruins are approached from the Mauch Ruins by a passage and steps, also from the Motelekwe wagon-track, and by a path passing the west end of Posselt Ruins B. The North-East Passage leading from the Elliptical Temple is scarcely any longer an approach, as the passage walls have in some places fallen inwards and blocked the passage.
No. 1 Enclosure.—This is the most easterly of the enclosures of these ruins. It is oval in plan, being 73 ft. from east to west, and 52 ft. from north to south. The walls are substantially built, but are constructed in the style usually found in ruins built at some distance from any of the main ruins. The highest walls are on the west and southern sides, and these average from 7 ft. to 9 ft. in height, 4 ft. to 5 ft. at 5 ft. above the floor in width, and are 4 ft. wide at the summit. The other walls are considerably dilapidated and average about 4 ft. in height. The bare formation rock forms its floor, and it slopes considerably from south to north.
Sketch Plan
RENDERS’ RUINS
Valley of Ruins
Middle Section
On the rock floor the following “finds” were made: Twenty pieces of beaten gold and gold wire, a few gold beads, amounting altogether to 3 ozs. In the yellowish soil above the floor and at a depth of 4 ft. Arabian glass with arabesque patterns most delicately engraved, beautifully glazed pottery of white clay with different bevels on the edges, and sunken designs under the glazes which are both sea-green and a delicate shade of forget-me-not blue, also very thin china of white clay with rich deep blue-and-gold enamel, also some minutely thin green glass, a large soapstone bowl, a fine copper chain, and some other pottery of excellent make and covered with green glaze, which has the appearance of being ancient or certainly of being of very antique character. On the upper level was found half a hundred-weight of twisted iron wire in coils ready to be cut off in lengths for bangles. The coils were fused together. Coils of fine brass wire similarly fused, over 200 ivory and glass beads unrecognisable by local natives, two pairs of double iron gongs, brass bangles, large cakes of copper, crucibles used for smelting copper, and two hundred-weight of hoes, axes, and chisels far superior in make to those of the Makalanga of to-day. The local natives examined this last class of “finds” with much wonderment. There was a total absence of articles of modern native make.
There is overwhelming evidence that during the last two periods of occupations of this enclosure it was most extensively occupied as a copper and iron-smelting place.
On the outer side of the south wall is a remarkable instance of the silting of the soil from higher ground. The depth of soil on the south face of the wall is at least 5 ft., and this has been washed into its present position by the rainstorms of many years. The triangular space formed by the wall and the sloping granite rock was thus filled in for a length of fully 70 ft.
There are no signs of any entrances into this enclosure except on the north-east side, where there is a long gap in the wall.
No. 2 Enclosure.—This is situated due west of No. 1 Enclosure. Its area, which is square save on the south side where it slightly rounds outwards, is 30 ft. by 20 ft. The débris from the high east wall of No. 3 Enclosure has almost filled it up to the summit of its walls. Nothing of any antiquarian value was found here, but the examination work was only partial. This enclosure probably acted as a passage-way from the North-East Passage to Nos. 1 and 5 Enclosures, and possibly towards the Lower Section of “The Valley of Ruins.”
No. 3 Enclosure.—The plan of this enclosure, which lies directly west of No. 2 Enclosure, is almost circular save that its north-east wall is slightly squared. The area is 39 ft. from north to south, and 36 ft. from east to west. The walls are exceedingly massive, some being 7 ft. wide at base and 5 ft. wide on the present summit at 7 ft. from the ground. They are obviously of better construction than any of the other walls of these ruins.
On the summit of the south wall are the remains of a banquette wall still 4 ft. long and 4 ft. high, which makes the total height of the wall at this point 11 ft. There is only one entrance, which is on the north-west, is rounded, and has portcullis grooves.
This enclosure has not as yet yielded any article of an antique character, but modern native articles are practically absent.
No. 4 Enclosure.—This is practically an open space separating these ruins on the south side from the ruins which are on higher ground, and extend up to the north-east walls of the Elliptical Temple. In area it is 150 ft. long from east to west, and averages in width from north to south some 50 ft. It is bounded on the south by three long semi-circular terraced walls, each about 8 ft. in height. Its floor on the north side is of formation rock, which slopes at a steep gradient to the north side where soil has silted in to a depth of 5 ft. On the north-east side it is bounded by the outer faces of Enclosures Nos. 1, 2, and 3.
The North-East Passage runs into the south-west corner of the area, and there are steps and a passage leading down from Mauch Ruins at the south-east corner of the area.
In this enclosure were found some fine pottery with Arabic lettering on the rim with beautiful designs, also a few gold beads.
No. 5 Enclosure.—This area is 86 ft. from north to south, and 40 ft. from east to west. It is bounded by No. 8 Enclosure on the west, by No. 2 Enclosure on the south, and by No. 1 Enclosure and a large open space not yet explored on the east and north sides. The walls are still fairly high, averaging 9 ft. on the south side, 8 ft. on the west, 7 ft. on the north and east sides. The construction is massive, the walls averaging 5 ft. to 6 ft. in width at base.
The entrance on the north-east side is rounded and had portcullis grooves. The foundations of the wall, as in all the older buildings, form the floor of the passage.
The only other entrance is in the south-east corner, and this leads into No. 2 Enclosure.
No. 6 Enclosure.—This enclosed area is directly on the west side of No. 3 Enclosure, and is 90 ft. from east to west, and averages 35 ft. from north to south. Possibly it contained sub-divisions, for small walls and traces of walls are to be found within it. The average height of the walls, so far as they are intact, is from 6 ft. to 8 ft. The floor of this enclosure is formed of granite rock which slopes slightly to the north. The eastern end of the south wall runs up a steep rock incline sideways, and is in consequence much dilapidated.
The North-East Passage runs from No. 4 Enclosure into this area at its south-east corner where it divides, one part going down into “The Valley,” while the other, following along the higher ground, trends to the west as far as No. 1 Ruins.
The two entrances at the south-east corner of the enclosure where the North-East Passage divides are both rounded—the entrance on the north-east side is also rounded.
No. 7 Enclosure and Passage.—This enclosure, which is triangular in form, is the most westerly of all the clearly defined areas of the Renders Ruins. It is 28 ft. long on its western side, 18 ft. on its north-east side, and 29 ft. on its southern side. The inner faces of the walls average 8 ft. in height. A large entrance, evidently of some importance, is on the west side. This is rounded and has portcullis grooves, while the side walls are 5 ft. high and the passage is 3 ft. 6 in. wide. Steps led from the entrance downwards on the outward side.
A drain runs through the south wall leading from No. 6 Enclosure.
A passage 31 ft. long with side walls 6 ft. high leads from this enclosure into No. 8.
No. 8 Enclosure appears to be of a very chaotic and irregular character, mounds of soil, piles of stones, and traces of sub-divisional walls being the principal features of this area, the surface measurements of which are 150 ft. from east to west, and 70 ft. from north to south. Soil has been evidently brought into the enclosure for the purpose of forming platforms on which are the remains of very old Makalanga clay huts.
Probably there were at least six sub-divisions of this enclosure. On the north, north-west, west, and south-west the walls average 6 ft. to 9 ft. in height, and about 4 ft. on the other sides. The walls are substantial and are fairly well built in places, the more substantial building being on the west side, where there is a prominent end of an angular wall 15 ft. high facing the north.
There are at least four entrances to this enclosure, viz. one on the north side which is rounded, a second on the south side which is also rounded and has portcullis grooves, one on the north-east side which is angular, and the fourth on the east side, and this is rounded.
UPPER SECTION OF “THE VALLEY OF RUINS”