Sankofa stage: Remember
Near Masvingo in southern Zimbabwe stand the ruins of a city built between about 1100 and 1450 CE by the ancestors of the Shona. It covered nearly 80 hectares and was an important trading centre.
Three parts of one city
- The Hill Ruins: a granite hill with enclosures, long considered a royal centre.
- The Great Enclosure: an elliptical wall of cut granite from the 14th century, with a conical tower.
- The Valley Ruins: living quarters spread through the valley.
Myth and evidence
An old legend made Great Zimbabwe the capital of the Queen of Sheba. Archaeology shows instead that it was an African city built by local people. The country took its name from the site.