Drains.—There are three drains through the walls of this section of the Posselt Ruins, one in the south wall passing through a wall 5 ft. 6 in. wide, one in a divisional wall, 4 ft. wide, which projects from the south main wall towards the north, and one in a divisional wall 5 ft. wide at the north-west of the building.

A semi-circular buttress projects 11 ft. into the interior from the cunei face of the north-east main wall. It is 27 ft. round its outer face. On the east side the buttress is 8 ft. high, and on the south and west sides, owing to dilapidations, and also to a higher floor, these faces are only 4 ft. and 5 ft. high. The top surface is covered with a foot depth of granite cement.

Circular platform.—This is at the eastern extremity of the ruins. It is 21 ft. in diameter and 5 ft. above the floors of the adjoining enclosures. On the east side the summit is approached by granite cement steps which are large and well rounded, and on the south by stone steps.

On the west of this platform are two raised enclosures immediately on the inside of the main wall. The northern one has steps leading some way towards the west side of the Circular Platform, and there probably once reached its summit.

Cement dadoes.—In these ruins are many lengths of granite cement dado work, the greatest length intact being 33 ft., and this is on the east of the west main wall. This work is also extensively found in the Parallel Passage. Not only is it found on the faces of walls, but also on round buttresses and on the side walls of entrances, thus reducing their widths by about 5 in. It runs about 3 ft. higher than the cemented floors.

PHILIPS RUINS

These ruins lie to the east of the Posselt Ruins, which they almost adjoin, being only 8 yds. apart at their nearest points. These ruins present several most interesting features:—

(1) The discovery (March, 1903) of the finest, most perfect, and most elaborately decorated soapstone beam with bird on summit yet found at Great Zimbabwe, also of phalli and beaten gold.

Sketch Plan
PHILIPS’ RUINS
“Valley of Ruins”
(Lower Section)