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

MEASUREMENTS OF EXTERIOR OF MAIN WALL COMMENCING AT SOUTH SIDE OF THE WEST ENTRANCE AND GOING SOUTH

Position of wall.	Point of compass faced.	Height above cleared surface.	Height above bottom of foundation.	Width of present summit.	Batter-back of face of wall.
[0 ft.]	W.	7 ft. 6 in.	11 ft.	6 ft. 6 in.	8 in.
Between [0 ft.] and [10 ft.] summit of wall rises from 7 ft. to 22 ft.
[10 ft.]	—	22 ft.	23 ft. 10 in.	4 ft. 2 in.	2 ft.
[25 ft.]	—	21 ft. 6 in.	23 ft. 6 in.	5 ft. 6 in.	2 ft.
[50 ft.]	—	22 ft.	24 ft.	6 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 6 in.
Between [98 ft.] and [104 ft.] are traces of a wall of this width running towards S.W.
[100 ft.]	S.W.	22 ft.	24 ft.	6 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 6 in.
[150 ft.]	S.S.W.	22 ft. 6 in.	24 ft. 6 in.	6 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 6 in.
Between [161 ft.] and [166 ft. 6 in.] are traces only of wall of this width protruding from main wall towards S.W.
Chevron Pattern commences at [189 ft.] and extends to [455 ft. 6 in.].
[200 ft.]	S.	22 ft. 8 in.	25 ft. 2 in.	10 ft. 2 in.	1 ft. 10 in.
[250 ft.]	S.E.	25 ft.	26 ft. 6 in.	8 ft. 2 in.	2 ft. 6 in.
[300 ft.]	S.E.	29 ft.	30 ft. 6 in.	8 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 8 in.
[350 ft.]	E.	29 ft.	31 ft. 6 in.	9 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 4 in.
At [380 ft.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.
[400 ft.]	E.	30 ft.	31 ft. 9 in.	7 ft. 4 in.	2 ft. 6 in.
At [425 ft. 9 in.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.
[450 ft.]	E.N.E.	32 ft.	34 ft.	9 ft. 6 in.	3 ft.
From [450 ft.] to [565 ft.] is Outer Parallel Passage.
Chevron Pattern ends at [455 ft. 6 in.].
At [482 ft.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.
[500 ft.]	N.E.	33 ft.	35 ft. 6 in.	12 ft. 2 in.	3 ft. 6 in.
At [510 ft. 6 in.] outer end of drain-hole through main wall.
At [530 ft.] line of summit falls to 28 ft.
[550 ft.]	N.E.	19 ft.	21 ft.	13 ft. 4 in.	1 ft. 4 in.
Summit of wall very considerably dilapidated.
Summit of wall very considerably dilapidated.
At [571 ft. 6 in.] to [576 ft. 6 in.] steps of North Entrance.
[575 ft.]	N.E.	11 ft.	(not examined)	14 ft.	2 ft. 6 in.
West side of North Entrance, 11 ft. high, rises to 17 ft. at [580 ft.].
Between [586 ft.] to [590 ft.] wall this width, forming north-west side of North-East Passage, protrudes from main wall towards N.E.
From [610 ft.] to [620 ft.] is gap in main wall and mis-joint of earlier and later walls.
[625 ft.]	N.	16 ft. 6 in.	19 ft.	5 ft.	1 ft.
Original height of wall reduced to 16 ft. 6 in. on west side of gap.
[656 ft.]	N.N.W.	17 ft.	19 ft.	3 ft. 6 in. (ruined)	1 ft. 10 in.
East side of North-West Entrance.
[660 ft.]	N.N.W.	17 ft.	19 ft.	5 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 10 in.
West side of North-West Entrance.
[675 ft.]	N.W.	17 ft.	18 ft. 6 in.	5 ft. 2 in.	1 ft. 10 in.
Face of wall bulges outwards above foundations.
[700 ft.]	N.W.	18 ft.	19 ft. 10 in.	4 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 6 in.
For several feet on either side of [700 ft.] summit of wall is considerably depressed by tree boughs hitting it.
A wall connecting No. 1 Ruin with Elliptical Temple protrudes from main wall between [705 ft.] and [710 ft.].
[750 ft.]	W.N.W.	21 ft.	23 ft.	4 ft. 8 in.	2 ft. 6 in.
[800 ft.]	W.N.W.	20 ft. 6 in.	22 ft. 4 in.	4 ft. 10 in.	3 ft.
From [814 ft.] to [829 ft.] the line of summit breaks downwards abruptly from 20 ft. to 8 ft. in height.
[827 ft. 9 in.]	W.	8 ft.	(not examined)	6 ft.	10 in.
This is the north side of West Entrance.
[831 ft. 9 in.]	This is the south side of the West Entrance, where the first measurement started.

MEASUREMENTS OF INTERIOR FACE OF MAIN WALL COMMENCING AT SOUTH SIDE OF THE WEST ENTRANCE AND GOING SOUTH

Position of wall.	Side of temple.	Height above cleared surface.	Batter-back of face of wall.	Point in interior of temple.
(0 ft.)	W.N.W.	7 ft. 6 in.	8 in.	No. 5 Enclosure
Between (0 ft.) and (10 ft.) is a large rounded buttress projecting into the temple. (See description of West Entrance.)
Between (0 ft.) and (10 ft.) summit rises sharply from 7 ft. 6 in. to 18 ft. 6 in., measurement from present surface of interior soil.
(10 ft.)	W.N.W.	18 ft. 6 in.	2 ft.	No. 5 Enclosure
(20 ft.)	W.N.W.	21 ft.	1 ft. 10 in.	〃
Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now decomposed.
(40 ft.)	W.N.W.	21 ft.	1 ft. 8 in.	No. 5 Enclosure
Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now decomposed.
(60 ft.)	W.	21 ft. 4 in.	1 ft. 6 in.	No. 5 Enclosure
Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now decomposed.
(80 ft.)	W.	21 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 2 in.	No. 5 Enclosure
Measured from bottom of trench showing an old cement floor now decomposed.
(100 ft.)	W.	18 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 9 in.	No. 6 Enclosure
Measured from top of débris on summit of low divisional wall.
(120 ft.)	S.W.	20 ft. 10 in.	2 ft. 1 in.	No. 6 Enclosure
Measured from red clay floor, believed to be of Makalanga construction. At (134 ft.) to (138 ft.) are traces only of a divisional wall.
(140 ft.)	S.W.	21 ft. 8 in.	2 ft. 2 in.	No. 6 Enclosure
Measured from a yellow granite cement floor.
(160 ft.)	S.W.	22 ft. 4 in.	2 ft. 2 in.	No. 6 Enclosure
Measured from a yellow granite cement floor.
(179 ft. 3 in.)
Angle of walls.
(180 ft.)	S.W.	21 ft. 6 in.	2 ft.	No. 6 Enclosure
Measured from a yellow granite cement floor.
At (180 ft.) step-down of foundation of 5 ft.
(200 ft.)	S.S.W.	17 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 2 in.	No. 8 Enclosure
Measured from summit of old excavated débris, 5 ft. high (since removed).				Sacred Enclosure (west)
(220 ft.)	S.S.W.	22 ft.	1 ft. 6 in.	No. 8 Enclosure
Measured from summit of old excavated débris, 5 ft. high.				Sacred Enclosure (west)
(240 ft.)	S.	23 ft. 6 in.	3 ft.	No. 8 EnclosureNo. 8 Enclosure
Measured from summit of old excavated débris, 5 ft. high.				Sacred Enclosure (west)
The large Conical Tower stands between (246 ft.) to (264 ft.).
(260 ft.)	S.	26 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 10 in.	No. 8 Enclosure
Measured from yellow granite cement floor.				Sacred Enclosure (east)
(280 ft.)	S.	26 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 4 in.	No. 8 Enclosure
Measured from yellow granite cement floor.				Sacred Enclosure (east)
The roughly built buttress at (286 ft.) to (303 ft.) is not ancient.
(300 ft.)	S.	28 ft.	2 ft. 6 in.	No. 8 Enclosure
Measured from yellow cement floor.				Sacred Enclosure (east)
There are doubts as to the antiquity of buttress(east) at (306 ft.) to (319 ft.).
(320 ft.)	S.S.E.	29 ft.	2 ft. 4 in.	No. 8 Enclosure
Measured from yellow granite cement floor.				Sacred Enclosure (east). At West Entrance to Parallel Passage.
Granite monolith (conjected) fallen from wall at (340 ft.).
Drain-hole through wall at (352 ft.).
(340 ft.)	S.S.E.	28 ft. 10 in.	2 ft. 2 in.	Parallel Passage
Measured from cement floor.
At (352 ft.) is a drain-hole.
(360 ft.)	S.S.E.	30 ft. 6 in.	2 ft. 2 in.	Parallel Passage
Measured from cement floor.
(380 ft.)	S.E.	30 ft. 4 in.	3 ft.	Parallel Passage
Measured from cement floor.
Drain-hole at (391 ft. 6 in.).
(400 ft.)	S.E.	29 ft.	3 ft. 2 in.	Parallel Passage
Measured from cement floor.
(420 ft.)	E.S.E.	30 ft. 4 in.	3 ft. 2 in.	Parallel Passage
Measured from cement floor.
(440 ft.)	E.S.E.	30 ft. 6 in.	4 ft.	Parallel Passage
Measured from cement floor.
Drain-hole at (442 ft.).
(460 ft.)	E.	31 ft.	3 ft. 6 in.	Parallel Passage
Measured from soil surface.
Drain-hole at (471 ft.).
(480 ft.)	E.	31 ft.	2 ft. 4 in.	Parallel Passage
Measured from soil surface.
(500 ft.)	N.E.	27 ft.	2 ft. 10 in.	Parallel Passage
The summit of the wall is much dilapidated. Between (500 ft.) and (520 ft.) the wall is broken, there being a large gap of this width, the bottom of which is 14 ft. above present level of floor.
(520 ft.)	N.E.	13 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 6 in.	Parallel Passage
Between (520 ft.) and (530 ft.) is the North Entrance. Wall on east side 6 ft. high, on west side 6 ft. 6 in. high, but on each side rises sharply within a few feet of the entrance.
From (536 ft.) to (544 ft.) are remains of small banquette below summit, and at 6 ft. above ground.
(540 ft.)	N.N.E.	18 ft.	1 ft. 8 in.	No. 2 Enclosure
Drain-hole at (549 ft.).
(560 ft.)	N.N.E.	12 ft.	2 ft.	No. 2 Enclosure
Centre of line of summit is 3 ft. higher than reduced inside edge.
Between (566 ft.) and (570 ft.) is the mis-joint in earlier and later walls.
(580 ft.)	N.	3 ft.	—	No. 2 Enclosure
At (580 ft.) the wall on west side of gap rises abruptly.
(600 ft.)	N.	18 ft.	1 ft. 10 in.	No. 3 Enclosure
Measured from an old cement floor.
Between (606 ft. 6 in.) and (611 ft. 6 in.) is the North-West Entrance.
(620 ft.)	N.W.	6 ft.	10 in.	No. 3 Enclosure
At (614 ft.) this wall rises perpendicularly to 16 ft.
(640 ft.)	N.N.W.	16 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 6 in.	No. 3 Enclosure
Measured from granite cement floor.
(660 ft.)	N.N.W.	19 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 4 in.	No. 3 Enclosure
Measured from granite cement floor.
Depression on summit caused by a tree.
(680 ft.)	N.N.W.	20 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 2 in.	No. 4 Enclosure
Measured from granite cement floor.
(700 ft.)	N.N.W.	20 ft. 6 in.	2 ft.	No. 4 Enclosure
Measured from granite cement floor.
(720 ft.)	N.W.	18 ft. 6 in.	1 ft. 4 in.	No. 4 Enclosure
Measured from granite cement floor.
Depression on summit caused by a tree.
(740 ft.)	N.W.	19 ft.	2 ft. 1 in.	Wall separating Nos. 4 and 5 Enclosures
Measured from base of divisional wall.
(750 ft.)	N.W.	18 ft. 10 in.	1 ft. 10 in.	No. 5 Enclosure
Measured from surface of soil.
Near (54 ft.) summit of wall drops to 9 ft. at north side of West Entrance.
(763 ft. 6 in.)	W.N.W.	7 ft.	10 in.	No. 5 Enclosure
Opening of West Entrance between (763 ft.) and (766 ft.).
(776 ft. 6 in.)	This is the south side of West Entrance, where first measurement started.

CHEVRON PATTERN ON EAST WALL, ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE

SUMMIT OF MAIN WALL

For some fairly extensive lengths along the summit of the more massive portion of the main wall the blocks and stones are higher on the centre of the floor of the summit than at top outer edges on either side, from which edges the measurements of the heights above the exterior and interior surfaces of the ground were taken. Branches of trees beating in high winds upon the summit, the weight of heavy festoons of creepers hanging from the summit, and the growth of monkey-ropes and wild vines in the joints of the dry masonry have destroyed some of the upper courses on either side of the wall. Therefore to the heights stated in the foregoing tables should be added at least 1 ft. or 2 ft., this being a fair average height of the whale-back ridge along portions of the summit of the wall.

An interesting question arises: What was the original height of the massive portion of the wall? There are some evidences that the original height could not have been more than six courses above the chevron pattern which runs on a true level on the upper and outer face of the wall between [189 ft.] and [455 ft.]. The greatest number of courses now remaining over this pattern is five, but these are only found at two points and for the length of a few blocks. At most points above the pattern there are no upper courses remaining; at other points one or two courses are perfect for some distance; the most frequent are three courses; while at several points there are four courses. To the heights given in the tables can safely be added 1 ft. to 2 ft. Were the obviously missing courses to be restored, the raised ridge along the centre of parts of the summit would be cleared, for these ridges of stones are formed of blocks once carefully packed, all on their flat sides, between side walls, and are similar to the existing internal portions of other well-built walls at Zimbabwe.

Adding this further height of from 1 ft. to 2 ft. to the tabulated heights, we can carry the investigation much further. The upper faces of the blocks of the fourth and fifth courses above the pattern are too free from decomposition, weather-stain, and lichen to have formed the topmost courses; in fact, their upper surfaces are decidedly fresh, as if the courses above them had not long disappeared, and when it is recollected that experience shows that the exposed top surfaces of blocks are found to take on signs of decomposition and of exposure to weather, and also to become covered with lichen quicker than the side faces of blocks in the body of the wall, and that the upper courses would have given some evidences of long exposure, which they do not, we may be certain that the wall was carried a further course, or possibly two courses of the wall higher than the fifth course above the pattern. Therefore at many points along the highest portions of the wall, as shown in the tables, 2 ft. 6 in. may be added to the tabulated heights, and this would include the height of the six courses above the pattern throughout its whole length.