Discover the Secrets: Top 15 Fun and Fascinating Facts About Great Zimbabwe You Never Knew

1. Giraffe & Fish Eagle Party

Knock, knock – who's there? It's our long-necked friends the giraffes, making their guest appearance in the unlikeliest of places: Great Zimbabwe! The soiree doesn't end there because the majestic fish eagles have also decided to swoop in: Archaeologists have uncovered evidence of trade between Great Zimbabwe and the Swahili coast, including giraffe bone fragments, linking the ancient society to the ivory trade. Moreover, the renowned soapstone bird sculptures found at the site are believed to represent the African fish eagle, showcasing the region's diverse wildlife.
Source => nationalgeographic.org

2. Gold Supply Central

Who needs Willy Wonka's golden tickets when you've got Great Zimbabwe's golden touch? Step right up and feast your eyes on the wonders of this ancient city, where fortune seemed to flow like a river of melted chocolate: During its heyday, Great Zimbabwe supplied a whopping 40% of the world's mined gold and boasted an enviable collection of gold lamé necklaces, thousands of which have been uncovered among the ruins.
Source => theguardian.com

Discover how the ancient people of Mohenjo Daro played Tetris with their town! Did you know their city was designed with perfectly right-angled streets and blocks aligned with cardinal directions? Uncover the secrets of this incredible grid-system from 2600-1900 BCE! ✨🧐

=> Fun Facts about Mohenjo-Daro

3. Mortar-Free Marvel

They say Rome wasn't built in a day, but Great Zimbabwe sure did put the 'great' in mortar-free construction: This ancient city in southern Africa, thriving from the 11th to 15th centuries, was known for its incredible stone walls built without any mortar, ruled by the mighty Munhumutapa who had political and economic prowess thanks to trade control, and boasted riches that - sorry, Indiana Jones - were not King Solomon's treasure.
Source => tandfonline.com

4. Flintstones-inspired City

Imagine if the Flintstones had planned and engineered a grand city, complete with massive stone walls and intricate passageways – give them some credit, they didn't have modern tools or any assistance from Dino: Behold the Great Zimbabwe, an ancient stone city built between the 11th and 15th centuries by the Shona civilization, boasting nearly 1,800 acres of granite marvels, several enclosures, and iconic walls up to 36 feet high that would give Fred and Barney a run for their money.
Source => hyperallergic.com

5. Ancestral Twitter Mascots

In a soaring display of tweeting from the soapstone ages, Great Zimbabwe's mysterious bird statues might just be the ancestral forefathers of Twitter's little blue mascot: these striking soapstone creations, combining human and avian features, were excavated in the 20th century and are believed to symbolize royal authority and perhaps represent the rulers' ancestors. So influential are these ancient stone fliers, that they even grace Zimbabwe's national flag as an emblem of national heritage.
Source => metmuseum.org

6. Real-life Game of Thrones

Who needs Game of Thrones when you've got Great Zimbabwe? With kingdoms galore, this epic realm was so much more than just a one-hit wonder: At its peak, Great Zimbabwe boasted seven comparable states, an expansive settlement of 250 royal clay houses, multi-story abodes, and supported up to 20,000 inhabitants – a feat truly unmatched for sub-Saharan societies in its era.
Source => khanacademy.org

7. Amazon of the Ancient World

Who needs Amazon when you've got Zimbabwe Express? That's right, Great Zimbabwe was the prime-time trading hotspot back in the day: This ancient city acted as a central hub for international trade, evidenced by archaeological findings like Chinese porcelain fragments, southeast Asian beads, and copper ingots from Central African trading centers along the Zambezi River.
Source => khanacademy.org

8. Regal Stone-Age Swag

Ever wonder what the ancient Shona people considered the "bird" when giving someone the finger? Well, it's probably more majestic than you're picturing: The massive soapstone bird sculptures unearthed in Great Zimbabwe are believed to be sacred symbols ranging from the regal bateleur eagle to the mighty African fish eagle. These one-of-a-kind, 11th-century carvings stood over 90cm tall on their columns and were exclusively found in this historic city, making them the ultimate aviary 'stone-age swag' that's got its beak far above the rest.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

9. Sturdy Party Pad

This "stone-cold" ancient party pad didn't crumble under pressure: Great Zimbabwe, an impressive stone complex in southern Zimbabwe, was constructed in the 11th century without a trace of mortar, and has stayed in one piece for a whopping 1,000 years, showcasing architectural genius and fascinating archaeologists and tourists alike.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

10. Influential Souvenir Collection

If Great Zimbabwe were on social media today, it'd be the ultimate influencer flaunting its exotic souvenirs from around the world: This ancient metropolis was a bustling commercial hub, amassing treasures like Chinese porcelain, southeast Asian beads, and African copper ingots from diverse trade partners along the Zambezi River and Central African realms.
Source => khanacademy.org

11. Chinese Pottery Plot Twist

In the great pottery plot twist of history: Great Zimbabwe just couldn't resist some Chinese porcelain goodness. Archaeologists have discovered Chinese pottery shards, Arabian coins, and glass beads among other items, pointing to extensive international trade links with places like China and Persia, even though there's no evidence of Chinese dishes being devoured by the locals.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

12. East-Meets-West Trade Links

Ever wondered if ancient Zimbabweans had a taste for Chinese takeout and Arabian Nights? Well, wonder no more: Archaeologists have unearthed fragments of Chinese porcelain and Arabian glass at Great Zimbabwe, indicating extensive trade links with Asia and the Middle East, further backed by the discovery of pottery that bears a striking resemblance to pieces from Tanzania.
Source => historytoday.com

13. Population Mystery Solved

Hold onto your hats, history buffs, because we've been a bit overzealous in counting our ancient Zimbabwean chickens before they hatched: Turns out, the population of Great Zimbabwe, one of Africa's grandest archaeological treasures, was actually just 10,000 at its peak, half of what was originally believed, thanks to a compelling blend of archaeological, ethnographic, and historical findings, combined with ecological and statistical wizardry.
Source => ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

14. Far-reaching Trade Connections

If the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe were a modern-day entrepreneur, it would have LinkedIn connections all the way to China: This mighty metropolis was an astonishing center of international trade, dealing mainly in gold and ivory, with evidence of a trade network stretching thousands of miles beyond its borders.
Source => courses.lumenlearning.com

15. Baobab Tree Buddies

Tales abound of old baobab trees buddying up with ancient Zimbabweans, sharing skincare tips and culinary secrets: Great Zimbabwe is a cultural, historical, and botanical goldmine, boasting over 200 plant species, including the multi-purpose baobab tree. The tree provided not only medicinal remedies, but also baobab fruit for snacking and seed oil for cooking and skincare. This fascinating region still serves as a treasure trove of traditional medicine and indigenous knowledge.
Source => nationalgeographic.org