Uncover the mysteries of Great Zimbabwe, the awe-inspiring ancient city that gave the nation its name, and its enduring cultural significance.
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An Iron Age City in Stone
This series, Heart of Stone, traces the legacy of Great Zimbabwe — a monumental Iron Age city whose ruins stand as one of Africa's most significant archaeological sites.
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1
Houses of Stone Built Without Mortar
The very name Zimbabwe comes from the Shona phrase dzimba dzemabwe, meaning houses of stone or stone buildings.
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2
Shona Ancestors and Their Trading Empire
At its peak, Great Zimbabwe supported between ten and twenty thousand people — a population rivaling medieval London.
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3
Gold Glass and Porcelain From Afar
Fragments of Chinese celadon porcelain from the Song and Ming dynasties turned up in the ruins of Great Zimbabwe, thousands of kilometers from where they were fired.
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4
Three Zones of an Ancient City
The Great Enclosure at Great Zimbabwe is the largest single ancient structure in sub-Saharan Africa, with outer walls stretching nearly 250 meters in circumference and…
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5
Cattle Gold and a Plateau Empire
At its peak, Great Zimbabwe supported a population estimated between ten and twenty thousand people, making it one of the largest urban centers in sub-Saharan Africa…
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