THE ANCIENT RUINS
OF RHODESIA

(MONOMOTAPÆ IMPERIUM)

R. N. HALL & W. G. NEAL

E. P. DUTTON/ METHUEN & CO
1902

First edition.
Since coming to the notice of the modern world in 1874, through the writings of Carl Mauch, the Zimbabwe Ruins have presented the big puzzle of the past.

The first archaeologist to excavate there was Theodore Bent, in 1891, whose work is recorded in The Ruined Cities of Mashonaland. The next investigation, carried out in 1902 at the request of Rhodes, was conducted by the authors of this work, Hall and Neal. 

English-born R. N. Hall came to Rhodesia in about 1897 and was the first Secretary of the Bulawayo Chamber of Commerce before engaging in mining journalism. He made an extensive study of the ancient ruins and presented papers on the subject to numerous learned societies. W. G. Neal hailed from Durban and was a prospector and miner with experience of the Barberton and Rand goldfields. He moved to Rhodesia in 1891.

Still a valuable and informative description of the ruins in Zimbabwe, despite the “Ophir” theory being prove wrong.

CONTENTS
Chronological table of events, ancient, mediaeval, and modern, referred to in this work

CHAPTER I Introductory
CHAPTER II Ruined temples and forts in Rhodesia, Zimbabwe the metropolis , Districts and capital towns .
CHAPTER III Supposed Sabearo-Arabian or Himyaritic occupation of Rhodesia considered, Was Rhodesia Ophir?, Suggested subsequent occupation of Monomotapa (Rhodesia) by the Phoenicians, Phoenicians and Hebrews .
CHAPTER IV Area of ancient ruins and ancient gold-workings, Matoppa, Zimbabwe and Sofala main roads, The Matoppas and the ancients , " King Solomon's road ", "The Wall of God", Lo 'Bengula's ivory, Was there a northern road?, Sofala
CHAPTER V Ancient gold-mining, Old workings, Enormous gold output by ancients, Their discontinuance of mining operations, Was it sudden ?, Ancient mining a sovereign venture
CHAPTER VI Ancient gold-crushing and gold-smelting, Ancient mortar holes, crushing stones, crucibles, and furnaces
CHAPTER VII The ancient goldsmiths, Over 2,000 ounces of ancient gold ornaments discovered, Gold wire drawing, Gold beads, Beaten gold, Gold nails and tacks, Gold plating, Goldsmiths' tools .
CHAPTER VIII Where were the ancients buried?,Methods of ancient burial described, Buried treasure, Old Kaffir burials, Ancient garments
CHAPTER IX The ages of the Zimbabwes, Approximation by orientation, architecture, ancient history, and present conditions
CHAPTER X The ancients and modern natives .
CHAPTER XI Ancient relics and "finds" discovered in the ruins
CHAPTER XII Architecture and construction of ancient ruins in Rhodesia
CHAPTER XIII The Great Zimbabwe, Derivation, Early references, Explorers, Situation, Period, Importance, Extent,Ornamentation,General description, Cones, towers, and buttresses, Notes
CHAPTER XIV Khami ruins
CHAPTER XV Ruins in the M'Pateni district, Belingwe
CHAPTER XVI Ruins in East Belingwe
CHAPTER XVII Ruins in North Belingwe
CHAPTER XVIII Ruins in Filabusi district
CHAPTER XIX Ruins in Upper Insiza district
CHAPTER XX Ruins in Gwanda district
CHAPTER XXI Ruins in Gwelo district
CHAPTER XXII Tati and North Bechuanaland ruins
CHAPTER XXIII Ruins in Matabeleland located but not described
CHAPTER XXIV Ruins in Mashonaland
CHAPTER XXV Ruins in Inyanga and Mount Fura districts 

APPENDIX

Note A. Some ancient hammers found in the Tati district
B. Description of an ancient copper mine
C. Ancient copper-workings
D. "The Clay Zimbabwe"
E. Find on Mount Hova
F. Mashonas and gold-extraction
G. "Ophir" and India
H. Phoenician enterprise
I. The late Mr. Thomas Baines sketches of Zimbabwe
J. To Archaeologists in Rhodesia
K. Messrs. Neal and Johnson
L. Morning Post on Professor Keane's articles on "The Gold of Ophir"
M. The Straits of Suez
N. Climate in ancient times

Index

23 x 15 cm. xxvii + 396 pp + b/w photo plates + maps and plans (some folding, 1 large map in pocket at rear). Top edge gilt.

Good condition. Ex-library, embossed stamp to both boards and gilt shelf number on the spine, library bookplate on the front pastedown, small stamp to the head of a few pages but otherwise clean and tidy, binding sound. The map has some splits along the folds but is complete.