Operations in this temple since the description of the earlier work was embodied in the text of this volume have been carried on to June, 1904. Soil to a depth of from 3 ft. to 5 ft. was removed from the whole of the eastern portion of this area. The excavations showed several layers of native clay floors one above another. The “finds” were those known to be of native origin, though not made by natives of to-day. The later or native period of gold manufacture was greatly in evidence, beaten gold, gold tacks, and gold wire being frequently met with in association with copper sheathing, copper assegai- and arrow-heads, the copper containing no alloy.
A trial hole sunk to a depth of 6 ft. below this cleared portion of the temple area, or 9 ft. below the surface as it appeared in 1903, showed in its sides the lines of several clay floors and the side of a Kafir clay hut, now quite decomposed and soft. At the bottom of the pit a rough pavement of closely-fitting stones of irregular shape and size was come upon, and the articles found were identical with those discovered at a higher level.
The clearing of the area also disclosed clay sides of huts with the remains of short walls of stone radiating from the sides of the huts. The wall which Mr. Bent considered might have been the “altar” was found to be the radiating wall of a similar hut built upon a higher level. These small radiating walls are a general feature of exceedingly old native huts found at several places at Zimbabwe.
A large circular platform of granite cement was also disclosed. This spot yielded beaten gold of native make.
A ZIMBABWE REVIVAL
The writer believes that between the thirteenth and fifteenth centuries, or slightly earlier, a great influx of people took place at Zimbabwe, and that the majority of the minor ruins in the Valley of Ruins were built about this period. This is shown by the number of walls built across exceedingly old débris heaps of native origin, by the “finds” of Arabian articles on their lowest floors, and by the fact that no relic of greater age than that period has been found. Two or three of the better-built minor ruins have the appearance of greater age, and some of the relics found in this class of ruins are of the oldest type. No one who had not spent considerable time at Zimbabwe could have any possible conception of the immense population present here at a period of but a few centuries ago. The remains of their stone walls are scattered thickly over the valleys and hillsides of Zimbabwe. The Makalanga state these are all Makalanga of generations long passed away. Some are constructions by indigenous peoples, and certainly they are not ancient, though largely built of stones quarried from the ancient ruins, and the “finds” are those of old native type, including Arab articles.
PRESERVATION OF RUINS
The thanks of all scientific circles, and of South Africans generally, are due to Sir W. H. Milton, Administrator of Rhodesia, whose great interest in the preservation of the ancient monuments in these territories is well known, and to whose direction is due the recent and timely preservation work at Great Zimbabwe. The author desires to express his personal indebtedness to Sir William Milton for the adequate arrangements made by him while engaged in his recent researches at the Great Zimbabwe.
PLAN OF ELLIPTICAL TEMPLE
The clearing of the Elliptical Temple and its vicinity has enabled Mr. Franklin White, m.e., Bulawayo, to prepare the latest and so far the most perfect plan of that building, and this he has kindly placed at the service of the author.