©Global Heritage Fund 2011 Site Conservation Assessment v2.0 Thank you for undertaking this Site Conservation Assessment. Please note the following: You may need to create extra rows in the form by clicking in any cell in the bottom row of a box and selecting ‘Table’>‘Insert’>‘Rows Below’ in the Word menu bar running along the top of your window. If important, relevant information is not directly solicited by the prompts provided, please address in the lowermost cell of each box, labelled “Further remarks”. For lengthier responses (eg concerning condition and conservation details), type “see below” in the relevant box and append your observations to the end of the form, clearly labeled and organized. Identify site components on a digital map or aerial photo. Photographically document the state of conservation for each component, keying photos to their location on a map or aerial image and providing informative captions. 1. General Information Date 22 December 2011 Site Name Great Zimbabwe Country Zimbabwe Site Status World Heritage Inscribed Assessor Name Gilbert Pwiti Institution University of Zimbabwe Profession Professor of Archaeology Affiliations PAA, WAC, SAFA, Date of site visit 07/07/2011-11/07/2011 & 15/07/2011-17/07/2011 Previous history Archaeological and heritage management research with the site Site Description Great Zimbabwe is located at the southern edge of the Zimbabwean plateau. It is the largest of an estimated 300 dry stone walled structures of (250 words or less) what archaeologists now call the Zimbabwe culture of southern Africa. The culture is broadly dated to the period between the 11th and the 18th Century AD. The majority of the sites of this culture are found in the modern state of Zimbabwe. The ancient city of Great Zimbabwe covers an area of approximately 7 hectares consisting of different dry stone wall enclosures, although it has become customary to divide the ancient city into three principal parts, the Hill Complex, the Great Enclosure and the Valley ruins. In addition are areas referred to as peripheral settlements. The Hill Complex, regarded as the seat of power during the occupation of Great Zimbabwe, consists of a series of enclosures constructed on a prominent hill to the north of the monument. The Great Enclosure is located in the valley adjacent to the Hill Complex and is perhaps the most spectacular and most substantial part of the monument. It has an outer wall approximately 250 m in length with an approximate height of 10 m. It is now agreed to be the largest single prehistoric structure in sub-Saharan Africa. Inside the Great Enclosure are a number on internal stone enclosures, including the Conical Tower as well as remains of Dhaka(adobe) platforms. The Valley Ruins are located between the Hill Complex and the Great Enclosure and consist of a number of individual dry stone enclosures of varying size. Site Significance Great Zimbabwe is the largest of over 300 dry stone walled structures in southern Africa. It represents one of the most unique architectural and 1 ©Global Heritage Fund 2011 (250 words or less) dramatic cultural landscapes in Africa. The Great Enclosure at Great Zimbabwe stands as the largest single structure to have been constructed in prehistory in sub-Saharan Africa. The site thus constitutes a unique cultural achievement in the African past and the rest of the world. It represents a powerful symbol of African cultural and political identity. It may be noted that because of its various unique characteristics and evidence of indigenous cultural achievement, the country itself is named after this monument and different artefactual materials recovered from the site have been used as symbols of national identity. In addition, it is a major tourist attraction and has over the years attracted tourists from all over the world. The place thus has cultural, historical, political as well as economic significance. 2. Project Potential The following information is critical for GHF evaluation of how our scarce resources can most effectively employed. Planning Community What plans (eg Management, Conservation, Tourism Development, Disaster Is there a nearby community that is or could be invested in preservation and tourism Preparedness) currently exist, and/or have been executed? development at the site? A management plan is being developed. What existed at the time of Great Zimbabwe is surrounded by diverse communities. However, there are 3 clans, assessment is a Management System. Nemanwa, Charumbira and Mugabe who directly identify with the ancient city. Of late, they have been involved by National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe in Conservation has been ongoing for many years and has included stone wall aspects of preservation. A Traditional Village exists within the Great Zimbabwe Estate restoration, and in recent times, scientific monitoring of wall behavior using where various tourism targeted cultural activities take place. different techniques and approaches. One of the major threats to Great Zimbabwe is unplanned bush fires. Disaster preparedness is largely targeted at this and largely consists of construction of fire guards around the Great Zimbabwe estate. Conservation Partnerships What are the paramount conservation problems and needs? Dry stone walls What domestic and international, public and private organizations have the greatest mainly face the problem of wall collapses. In addition is conservation of Dhaka potential as partners in preservation and tourism development at the site? structures either platforms or remains of houses found within stone wall enclosures. The primary needs include development of monitoring techniques, University of Zimbabwe, Midlands State University currently train students in Heritage training for conservation, restoration/reconstruction. Management. The various tour operators and the Zimbabwe Tourism have the greatest potential at domestic level. At international level, UNESCO, UNDP, The What international conservation efforts have taken place? African Archaeology Network. Over the years, conservation efforts have included UNDP (Sassoon – 1982, Rodrigues & Manuelshagen 1987, Loghborough University (UK)/ Department of Surveying, Faculty of Engineering, University of Zimbabwe 1997) 2 ©Global Heritage Fund 2011 Further remarks: 3. Site Condition - Overview Emphasize recent (past 30 years) and ongoing changes in condition. Perceptual condition refers to elements such as visual intrusion, noise, encroachment of new constructions, crowding, commodification, etc. General Physical Condition General Perceptual Condition Site Generally, Great Zimbabwe has enjoyed a fairly high level of protection Over the years, parts of the monuments have experienced wall from elements such as crowding and constructions. However, the collapses and deterioration of exposed adobe structures. proposed construction of a new state university c. 3 km to the north east of the monument poses a serious threat in terms of visual intrusion, noise and general atmosphere. Setting / Great Zimbabwe has always been claimed by three clans, Buffer Nemanwa, Charumbira and Mugabe clans. In the past, tensions Zone have often developed between National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and the traditional leaders of the three clans. These tensions have included official management practices, demands for involvement as well as site ownership claims between the groups themselves. Although it would appear that some of these difficulties/tensions have been resolved and currently there is dialogue and amicable working relations with representatives of these local communities, the situation requires/will require careful management on the part of NMMZ. Cattle herds of the local communities encroach on the GZ estate. This requires that a stronger fence be erected around the estate. It would appear the type of fence currently being used is vulnerable. 3 ©Global Heritage Fund 2011 Another solution is to continue to dialogue with local communities to keep their cattle herds way from the monument. The above could be regarded as having site management implications. Are there particular social dynamics having site management implications? These could involve, for example, site ownership and control, land use, legal status, armed conflict, ethnic tensions, crime, corruption, elite appropriation and access restrictions. Further remarks: 4. Site Condition and Conservation - Detailed List major components (eg. structures, features, areas) if applicable and describe condition and state of conservation of each. Add sections for new components as needed. Include captioned photos of each component showing representative examples and critical areas. Component 1 (Insert name or designation here) Great Enclosure Character Description Period(s) of construction Predominant materials and construction techniques th th The Great Enclosure is located in 13 - 15 C AD. Dry stone walling the valley adjacent to the Hill Complex and is perhaps the most spectacular and most substantial part of the monument. It has an outer wall approximately 250 m in length with an approximate height of 10 m. It is now agreed to be the largest single prehistoric structure in sub-Saharan Africa. Inside the Great Enclosure are a number on internal stone 4 ©Global Heritage Fund 2011 enclosures, including the Conical Tower as well as remains of Dhaka platforms. Condition Stability, integrity, Stable authenticity etc; list sub-components as necessary. Include photo-documentation Conservation History RESTORED/ RECONSTRUCTED