These ruins form part of the line of Hill Inner Defence Wall, which encloses the whole of Zimbabwe Hill on its west, south, and east sides and runs along the foot of the lower slopes of the hill. The most complete view of this continuous line of wall is obtained from the summit of the hill. This line of defence wall is again enclosed on the west side by the Outer Defence Wall, which runs from the north side of the hill almost as far as the Elliptical Temple, and between these two walls are the three large dongas on the west side of the hill.
The “Outspan Ruins” form the most perfect section of the Hill Inner Defence Wall, not excepting the fine entrances to the North-West Ancient Ascent with its herring-bone pattern, which is also another section of the same line of inner defence wall, only on the north-west side of the hill. They also must have served as an important entrance through the south-west portion of the Hill Inner Defence Wall. The entrance is complicated and rendered very difficult of attack by a number of rounded buttresses, in addition to which there are small enclosures most substantially built, which, most probably, were guard-rooms.
Sketch Plan
OUTSPAN RUINS
Zimbabwe
There is nothing angular in the plan and construction of these ruins. They very patently resemble other outlying buildings which obviously formed part of the original plan of the main Hill Ruins. The courses in the wall are not very regular, and stones of all shapes and sizes have been introduced. There is no decorative pattern in this section of the Hill Inner Defence Wall, but there is one peculiarity in its architecture, and in that of a conical tower which is described later.
These ruins occupy an area of 113 ft. from south-east to north-west, and 70 ft. from north-east to south-west.
The main wall faces south. The 113 ft. length only includes the line of main wall which still stands some 5 ft. to 11 ft. in height, the wall at either end of this length can be traced extending for 500 yds. to the east and 350 yds. to the west and north.
The entrance which has rounded walls on either side is 4 ft. wide, and passes diagonally south-west through the main wall, thus giving it a length of 8 ft. On its eastern side the wall is 7 ft. high, and 5 ft. on the western side.
The ruins on the north side of main wall form a central enclosure to the north of the entrance with an enclosure on either side of it, also a passage on the south and west sides of the central enclosure.
The central enclosure is formed by a wall 22 ft. long, 4 ft. high, and 5 ft. to 7 ft. wide on the present reduced summit, which runs north at right angles from the inside of the main wall at 4 ft. east from the east side of the entrance. The wall, which at its northern extremity is rounded, forms the divisional wall between the central and eastern enclosures. The west side of the central enclosure is formed by a wall, rounded at each end, which starts at 4 ft. from opposite the inside of the entrance, and goes west for 13 ft. and north-east for 19 ft. This wall averages 3 ft. to 8 ft. in height, and is from 4 ft. to 5 ft. 6 in. wide at base, and 3 ft. 6 in. on the highest summit. Where the east wall of this enclosure comes opposite the end of the north-east wall is an entrance 3 ft. 6 in. wide. The area of this enclosure is 14 ft. from west to east and 19 ft. from north to south. It is possible that in the centre of this enclosure once stood a round buttress or tower, and the position of a few blocks in the floor makes this something more than a mere conjecture.