The Great ruins of Zimbabwe, which formerly served as the Queen of Sheba’s capital, according to an antiquated tale, are a singular testament to the Bantu civilization that flourished among the Shona people between the 11th and 15th centuries.
The city, which has approximately 80 hectares in size, was a significant commerce hub and became well-known after the Middle Ages.
The Great Zimbabwe National Monument is situated in the Lowveld, some 30 kilometers from Masvingo, at an elevation of around 1100 meters, in a sparsely populated Bantu/Shona region.
The Hill Ruins, the Great Enclosure, and the Valley Ruins are three distinct groups that make up the property, which was constructed between 1100 and 1450 AD. It covers almost 800 ha.
The Hill Ruins, a massive granite monolith perched atop a spur and facing northeast/southwest, provide evidence of continuous human habitation from the 11th to the 15th century.
Narrow, partially covered tunnels provide access to various enclosures made of rough granite rubble-stone blocks.
Great ruins of Zimbabwe
The Valley Ruins are a collection of 19th-century living ensembles that are dispersed around the valley. Each ensemble shares a few traits: many of the structures (huts, inside benches and flooring, receptacles for gifts, basins, etc.) are made of brick, and the dry stone masonry walls act as insulation for each ensemble. The construction work was done to a high quality of skill and included an outstanding display of chevron and chequered wall designs, evoking subsequent advances of the Stone Age.
The Shona, an Iron Age Bantu group, had lived on the location sporadically during the prehistoric era when Great Zimbabwe was established, according to scientific studies. It had a population of approximately 10,000 people and served as the capital of a significant state that covered the gold-rich plateaux in the 14th century.
The capital was abandoned around 1450 as a result of deforestation and the failure of the hinterland to provide enough food for the growing city. Khami, which became the most powerful city in the region as a result of the influx, profited, but it also hinted at declining political authority.
