Khami Ruins
Khami
Zimbabwe · Matabeleland
In brief
Khami was the capital of the Torwa state, which developed after the decline of Great Zimbabwe. Keith Robinson's 1947-1955 excavations enabled a detailed study of the stone platforms and settlement layers.
What was found?
- 1Ming porcelains
Porcelains from China are among the imported objects found at Khami. They show that the city participated in long-distance trade networks.
- 2Rhineland stoneware
Stoneware from Europe's Rhineland region has also been found. It documents trade connections extending to different production centers.
- 3Spanish porcelains
Porcelains originating in Spain form another part of the imported assemblage. They provide tangible evidence of the circulation of goods connected with Europe.
- 4Stone platforms and house remains
Platforms built with dry stone walls and the remains of earthen dwellings have been preserved. They show how the settlement was arranged at different elevations.
- 5Decorated stone walls
Zigzag and checkerboard-like stone decoration appears on the walls. It reveals that stoneworking served a visual as well as a structural function.
What does it point to?
Khami was a center where local building traditions met objects from distant regions. According to researchers, sequences of walls and finds show that the settlement expanded over time; the details of its historical relationship with Great Zimbabwe remain debated.
What did it teach us?
- It documented participation in long-distance trade through objects originating in China and Europe.
- It demonstrated different applications of stone architecture through platforms and decorated retaining walls.
- Mukwende's research questioned the view that Khami developed directly from Great Zimbabwe and noted that further research was needed for this interpretation.
Images
Record
- Culture
- Torwa; Zimbabwe tradition
- Coordinates
- -20.1583°, 28.3767°
Sources
- whc.unesco.org
- open.uct.ac.za
- journals.uchicago.edu
- Cape Town Üniversitesi — Tawanda Mukwende'nin Khami araştırması
Nearby excavations
- Danamombe 102 km
- Mapungubwe Hill 243 km
- Great Zimbabwe 267 km
- Border Cave 847 km
- Wonderwerk Cave 985 km
- Sibhudu Cave 1,076 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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