Still, but so far only as authentic discoveries have been made, the suggested occupation by the Sabæo-Arabians as outlined in chapter iii. of The Ancient Ruins of Rhodesia affords for the present a good working hypothesis for the student in Rhodesia whose aim should be to closely watch the operations of archæologists and antiquarians in the land of ancient Yemen, while at the same time recording with the utmost exactness and fullest detail all and every possible architectural feature of such of the ruins in Rhodesia as may fall within the description of the First Period of Zimbabwe
Architecture, of which the Great Zimbabwe is undoubtedly a most perfect example. This work will awaken the most piquant interest and fascination, for in this direction may be found the definite solution of our local problem as to which particular wave of the Semitic migrations is responsible for the erection of certain of our ruins.
That the Great Zimbabwe will be found to be pregnant with clues to solve the mystery is undoubted. Notwithstanding two years’ work in clearing the ruins of fallen walls and silted-in soil, nine-tenths of the ruins still remain practically buried. Sir John Willoughby, after spending two months in exploring the Elliptical Temple with a large staff of labourers, writes that it would take at least two years to complete the exploration of that building, and this without touching anything ancient or piercing ancient floors, but simply leaving the building clear of all débris and just in the same condition, save for dilapidations, as the last race of ancient occupiers knew it. If, therefore, the Elliptical Temple would require this amount of time to be spent upon it—and this is a fair estimate of work yet to be done—then the Acropolis ruins must require at least a further three years to be spent upon them, and this calculation does not include the large number of ruins in the Valley of Ruins, which, if situated elsewhere in the country, would be considered of major importance. But the area of the Zimbabwe ruins, as known to Sir John Willoughby, was only 945 yds. by 940 yds. To-day, after carefully searching the surrounding kopjes, kloofs, and valleys, other ruins and walls, and traces of ancient walls, can be found at a distance of a mile from the Elliptical Temple. The Bentberg has its northern face covered with walls. Rusivanga Kopje shows foundations of walls and débris. Near Bingura’s kraal, a mile to the south-west, is a ruin, while extensive beds of imported gold quartz—the nearest reef being some miles distant—with piles of ancient blocks are to be discovered after a grass fire in almost all directions within the distance of a mile, and fresh traces of old peoples, other than those early Makalanga, are to be met with in the course of almost every walk. Thus the probabilities of new and important discoveries are incalculably great.
DEGREE OF DURABILITY OF WALLS
(a) As may be seen by anyone inspecting the walls, as well as on perusing the published description of many ruins of the earliest types, the elliptical and curved form of building has proved the most durable. In many instances the elliptical structures are more or less intact, while the angular and less skilfully built additions, extensions, and alterations of a later period have largely become ruinous and chaotic.
(b) This is accounted for by the more excellent workmanship in the construction of the ruins of the elliptical type, which have far broader foundations, are more massive, have a decided batter-back both inside and outside, bonded courses, the blocks of each course being more carefully selected, and the summits tied with “throughs,” while the angular type of ruins, with their plumb walls built on straight lines, with independent faces either side and carelessly filled-in interiors, and a less superior workmanship, have caused these walls to suffer more than the older type of ruins.
(c) Walls built on curved lines are in a far better state of preservation than those built on straight lines, the curves having served to strengthen the walls.
(d) Rounded ends of walls and rounded buttresses have proved to be far more durable than angular ends or squared buttresses, though most of these latter erections are obviously of a later date.
(e) The portions of divisional walls near main walls are in a better state of preservation than the other portions which are in the open parts of the ruins. This is owing to the protection and support of the larger walls. Many of the divisional walls are practically independent, and therefore more liable to collapse, but if not independent the number of entrances passing through them practically makes them such.