The mystery of how the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe prospered for centuries in a region plagued by droughts has finally been solved. The ruins of the first major city in southern Africa, Great Zimbabwe, can be found in the mountains of southeastern Zimbabwe. The name 'Zimbabwe' translates to 'the
The ruins of the ancient city of Great Zimbabwe. The vegetation around the ruins hides a lot of depressions, so-called Dhaka pits, which until now have been thought to have originated from the excavation of clay. With remote sensing methods and excavations, the researchers have found that the pits must also have been used to store and manage water for the city.
The ruins of the first major city in southern Africa, Great Zimbabwe, can be found in the mountains of southeastern Zimbabwe. The name “Zimbabwe” translates to “the big stone house” in the Shona language and the country was named after the ancient city. Great Zimbabwe was an 11th-century capital of the Shona kingdom, encompassing parts of present-day Zimbabwe and Mozambique, renowned for its large stone houses and enclosures.
This mystery has been investigated by a group of researchers from South Africa, England, Zimbabwe, and Denmark in the article “Climate-smart harvesting and storing of water: The legacy of dhaka pits at Great Zimbabwe.” With remote sensing methods and excavation, they investigated a number of large depressions in the landscape, which are locally called “dhaka” pits.
The people of Great Zimbabwe thus devised climate-smart methods for storing and managing water in an area that is characterized by having three different climates, with a very warm and dry season, a warm and wet season, and finally a warm and dry winter. Such a water supply may have been essential in order to create an urban society that required a safe supply of water for its inhabitants, for livestock, and for agriculture.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Researchers Discover How Cannabidiol (CBD) Counters Epileptic SeizuresStudy findings suggest specific targets for future drugs. A previously unknown way in which cannabidiol (CBD), a substance found in cannabis, reduces seizures in many treatment-resistant forms of pediatric epilepsy has been revealed by a new scientific study. Led by researchers at NYU Grossman
Read more »
Researchers Are Turning Taxidermied Birds Into DronesWhy reinvent Mother Nature's work when you can just build on top of it?
Read more »
Researchers Unlock the Evolutionary Secrets of a Cancer-Fighting Chinese Medical HerbUK and Chinese researchers have unlocked the evolutionary secrets behind the medicinal herb barbed skullcap's ability to produce cancer-fighting compounds. The CEPMAS collaboration utilized DNA sequencing technology to piece together the genomic sequence of the skullcap plant (Scutellaria barbata
Read more »
Birth control: Researchers developing fast-acting pill for menAlmost half of the world's pregnancies are unplanned, and the contraceptive burden has historically fallen on the shoulders of women. Aside from condoms and vasectomies, there doesn't seem to be many options for men.
Read more »
One of the few researchers studying vinyl chloride's health effects has warningsEarlier this month, a train derailed in East Palestine, Ohio. Multiple cars dumped vinyl chloride onto the ground a fire sent toxins into the air.
Read more »
Researchers think alien civilizations might be creating black holes to store quantum dataSome scientists are claiming that aliens create black holes to store quantum data we could use to find signs of alien life.
Read more »