HERRING-BONE PATTERN, WATER GATE RUINS, ZIMBABWE
At the bottom end of this length and going north is an enclosed area triangular in shape 47 ft. long, and with the apex resting in the lower end, where the passage becomes narrowed to 2 ft. 6 in. This area and the corresponding area of similar shape in the South-East Ancient Ascent appear to have been intended to serve a similar purpose—that is, to enable a crowd of defenders on a high level to act against two or three bands of the attacking party on a lower level and in a narrow passage. Into this area open out at least three entrances from buried enclosures on either side. The area has in its length a fall of 9 ft.
At the foot of this triangular-shaped area the passage runs north for 38 ft. It is 2 ft. to 4 ft. wide, and the side walls are 4 ft. high. The fall in this length is 5 ft. At the northern end of this length and crossing it at right angles is the old path used by visitors in making the ascent of the hill.
Section (e).—This extends from the old path used by visitors ascending the hill, down to the Water Gate.
From the Visitors’ Path the descent to the Water Gate is somewhat uninteresting, the passage walls being very much dilapidated, the upper side wall being particularly damaged, having been subject to the full force of falls of block débris down the face of the hill. In this way the lower side walls, having been so protected, are in a somewhat better condition.
Starting down from the path there appears to be a chaos of stones for some 15 ft., but still the passage can be traced. As there are several lines of well-laid blocks close to the crossing of the path and passage, it is quite probable that side passages ran into the main passage at this point. At the 15 ft. down a very wide wall 4 ft. to 5 ft. high runs down the north side of the passage for 140 ft.
The south side shows an unburied wall 30 ft. long and about 3 ft. high. At 80 ft. from the Visitors’ Path the passage opens out into a triangular space 25 ft. wide, with the apex resting at the lowest point of the steep enclosure. Such triangular spaces on the lines of steep passages are not uncommon, being found at several ruins. There is one higher up the same ascent, and another on the South-East Ancient Ascent. In each case the descent is steep, and the lowest point of the triangular area rests on a narrow passage coming up from below.
At 140 ft. below the Visitors’ Path the north wall alone is standing, and this runs downwards for 50 ft. This wall is 4 ft. high and is rather wide. The south wall is now represented only by a line of wall débris running parallel with the north wall.
At 190 ft. the passage becomes lost, but exactly parallel and at a distance of 20 ft. south is the commencement of another passage. Probably the upper length takes a sharp turn west under a pile of débris which lies between the two passages. This second passage has a buried wall 3 ft. high on the south side. On the north side the wall is 150 ft. long, and on this length the south wall has practically disappeared.
At the down side of this length the passage becomes far better defined, having side walls from 3 ft. to 5 ft. high, and 3 ft. wide on their summits. The passage here takes a sharp turn towards the north for 50 ft., then to the south-west for 25 ft., and again to the north for almost 100 ft., the side walls being intact for this length, the east wall being from 4 ft. to 7 ft. high, and the passage 2 ft. 6 in. wide. This is the best-preserved portion of the lower half of the Ascent. The west side walls are from 3 ft. to 4 ft. high. Between these walls are traces of steps, also a few buttresses, all rounded.