R N Hall

Great Zimbabwe, Mashonaland, Rhodesia R N Hall

The recent examination of the district surrounding the ruins now shows the Ruins' Area to be far larger than either Mr. Theodore Bent or Sir John Willoughby supposed. Instead of the area being confined to 945 yds. by 840 yds., it is now known to be at least 2 miles by 11/4 miles, and even this larger limit is by no means final, as traces of walls and of walls buried several feet under the veld have been discovered, not only in Zimbabwe Valley, but in the secluded valleys and gorges and on the hillsides which lie a mile and even two miles beyond the extended area. Huge mounds, many hundred feet in circumference, with no traces of ruins, covered with large full-grown trees and with the remains on the surface of very old native huts, on being examined have been found to contain well-built ruins in which were unearthed small conical towers, gold ornaments, a few phalli, and in one instance a carved soapstone bird on a soapstone beam 4 ft. 8 in. high, which is more perfect and more ornate than any other soapstone bird on beam yet found at Zimbabwe. The examination of such spots and of all traces of walls which lie at the outer edge of the extended Ruins' Area would, even with a large gang of labourers, occupy almost a lifetime.