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

THE PLATFORM

This is an elevated position at the east corner of the Western Temple, commanding a splendid view of the whole of the interior of the temple and of the surrounding enclosures. It appears to have been erected for the same purposes as were The Platform in the Elliptical Temple in the valley, and the Ancient Balcony in the Eastern Temple on the hill.

Its height is 27 ft. 6 in. above the present floor of the temple, and about 32 ft. above any of its ancient floors. It is 250 ft. above the level of the valley. The summit of The Platform projects out towards the west from the upper face of a huge boulder which forms the west end of the cliffs and boulders which ridge along the summit of this hill.

A wall 2 ft. high and from 1 ft. 10 in. to 2 ft. 6 in. wide runs west from the boulder at the back across the centre of The Platform and terminates in a rounded end overlooking the temple. On the east side of this low wall is an embrasure 3 ft. wide, also overlooking the temple, at the south end of which is a parapet wall now from 1 ft. to 3 ft. high and 12 ft. long, also on the edge of the temple wall. This forms the west side of the approach to The Platform from the south, which is further formed by the Winding Stairs.

On the north side of The Platform is a flight of stairs, now considerably ruined by roots of trees forcing out the steps. This flight ascends from the granite rock floor of the Platform Enclosure from between two rounded buttresses. Half-way up the steps pass between two small, low walls, the space between them being 2 ft. These walls are parallel for a few feet, but as the steps descend they round off on each side away from the steps. This flight of stairs is the last and highest section of the North-West Ancient Ascent from the valley where are the large water-holes or dongas (see North-West Ancient Ascent).

At the top of these steps and on the east side of The Platform is the celebrated Dentelle Pattern.

This ancient wall decoration is the sixth yet discovered in Rhodesia, and until more is known of the similar pattern at Matendele Ruins, it can be tentatively concluded that this pattern on The Platform is by far the best and the most complete specimen extant in Rhodesia.

Its present dimensions are 3 ft. 6 in. wide and 3 ft. 6 in. high, and it consists of four columns of small, shallow blocks laid flat, with corners outwards, and flush with each other, each block thus showing two faces, the whole enclosed on top, bottom, and south sides by an angular frame of large blocks. The north side of the frame has disappeared. It is probable that this pattern once possessed a fifth column of dentelle blocks, as the foundations, providing sufficient space for another column, still remain, and there are more of these small blocks lying in the débris below, each with two faces, generally time-worn. This pattern faces west, but very slightly to the south of west. In the summer of the Southern Hemisphere it exactly faces the setting sun, the great slanting monolith then being between it and the setting sun.

The other special features of The Platform are the Monoliths.

Two tall and flat-faced granite monoliths are still standing on The Platform, while one slate monolith lies prone on the south floor of The Platform, with a few feet of its length projecting over the temple wall. This last monolith is 10 ft. long, and at its centre part is 2 ft. 2 in. in circumference. This monolith is intact.

VIEW OF THE PLATFORM AT WESTERN TEMPLE, ACROPOLIS, FROM MAIN WEST WALL

DENTELLE PATTERN ON PLATFORM, WESTERN TEMPLE, ACROPOLIS

The heights of the two standing monoliths are: the erect monolith 8 ft. above The Platform, and the slanting monolith 11 ft. 6 in., and their respective circumferences are 2 ft. 2 in. and 2 ft. 9 in. The one in front of the Dentelle Pattern slants considerably to due north.[60] Its base, built into the wall, must be of great length to support the enormous weight of this large and slanting slab of granite, especially as this monolith had once been of greater length. The fracture on its top can be seen from the summit of the boulder behind. The fractured portion was found at the foot of the stairs, and this measures 3 ft. 2 in., thus making the exposed portion of the monolith not less than 14 ft. 8 in. in length. There is no evidence of the slanting of the monolith having taken place since its erection.