Great Zimbabwe National Monument

  • Kalin Nercessian

Heritage can enhance a sense of belonging to a place, offering inspiration and belief in what is possible. Integrating and promoting heritage and culture in urban strategies can aid in instilling pride in past achievements and contribute towards building more resilient communities and inclusive cities.

These resources were developed to offer archaeology, history and other students materials to enhance their appreciation and understanding of the Great Zimbabwe National Monument, thereby enriching their learning experience.

The resources were gathered in the context of the SARDC Teaching on-site workshop which took place from October 2nd to 6th, 2023, at the Great Zimbabwe historical site. The workshop allowed students from three SMUS partner universities to acquire new theoretical knowledge, learn about responsible research practices, gain exposure to archaeological sites, interact with advanced academics and learn about the importance of stakeholder and community engagement. The workshop also benefited the more advanced researchers in the group by strengthening their teaching skills, facilitating knowledge sharing amongst peers, and facilitating greater interdisciplinary understanding and cooperation. The SARDC Workshop Report can be downloaded here.

 

Zimbabwe means ‘houses of stone or stone houses’ in Shona, one of Zimbabwe’s main languages and is called ‘Great’ to distinguish it from the architecturally similar 200- 300 other structures that stretch from the interior Kalahari in modern-day Botswana to Manyikeni meaning ‘place where people trade’ by the coast in Mozambique.

The structures at the site are built with precisely chiseled granite from the surrounding environment, without any mortar. At its economic and political peak, this medieval capital was a bustling urban center with an estimated population of 10,000 to 20,000 people. The actual site and ruins extend beyond the designated 730 hectares of the monumental area.


Great Zimbabwe as a teacher

Below please find three audio recordings that were recorded during the SARDC Teaching on site workshop.

The interviews with various experts on Great Zimbabwe cover topics such as the role of Great Zimbabwe as a teacher, what they hope their students gain from the site, their impressions of the site, and how their specific Teaching on-site workshop topics relate to and contribute to a broader understanding of this heritage site.

More audio recordings will be added as they become available.

Nyasha Gurira

Midlands State University, Gweru, Zimbabwe

October 2023

Interview with Nyasha Gurira (23 min.)

Munyaradzi Manyanga

Great Zimbabwe University, Masvingo, Zimbabwe

October 2023

Interview with Prof. Munyaradzi Manyanga (15 min.)

Xander Antonites

University of Pretoria, South Africa

October 2023

Interview with Dr. Xander Antonites (19 min.)


These Great Zimbabwe Illustrations are a series of beautiful hand-drawn illustrations of various locations at this UNESCO World Heritage site. The illustrations can be used as a tool for inclusive storytelling, helping researchers and practitioners narrate the story of this medieval African city and its significance to Sub-Saharan, African, and World history. A selection of photographs of various locations on the site have also been included.

The illustrations and photographs can be downloaded from our website.

 

Our Great Enclosure Learning Resources page is continually being updated with new information. Currently, you can find a collection of photos and illustrations available for download. We are committed to expanding and enhancing these resources regularly, so please keep checking our website for the latest updates and additional materials.

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The Great Zimbabwe Hill Complex Learning Resources page is continually being updated with new information. Currently, you can find a collection of photos and illustrations available for download. We are committed to expanding and enhancing these resources regularly, so please keep checking our website for the latest updates and additional materials.

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The Great Zimbabwe Valley Learning Resources page is continually being updated with new information. Currently, you can find a collection of photos and illustrations available for download. We are committed to expanding and enhancing these resources regularly, so please keep checking our website for the latest updates and additional materials.

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The Great Zimbabwe Overall Site Learning Resources page is continually being updated with new information. Currently, you can find a collection of photos and illustrations available for download. We are committed to expanding and enhancing these resources regularly, so please keep checking our website for the latest updates and additional materials.

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