Tsindi Ruins: A place of historical importance
THE Tsindi Ruins are southeast of Harare not far from Marondera on a prominent granite hill. The ruins are on the southern side of the hill and are about 150 metres above the valley floor of the Nyakambiri River and have good views in all directions. The ruins cover about 2 hectares and the walls are built into the natural rocks on site.
This site was occupied by the Nhowe people for about 250 years under chiefs who bear the dynastic name of Mangwende and were allocated land by the Rozvi dynasty who were the overlords. In the 1830's during the Mfecane, the Nguni invasions took place and the Rozvi were defeated. Who caused the violent destruction of Tsindi as a religious centre is not known; thereafter it was used as a refuge and cattle kraal. Local oral history collected after the First Chimurenga of 1896-97 makes no mention of whether the Tsindi Ruins were inhabited at this time.
Carl Mauch was the first European to see Tsindi Ruins in 1872 when he wrote in his journal that he saw: “an isolated low hill on which there are properly built walls…all give the name of zimbabye to these ruins” and continues: “and around a mountain, about 4 00 feet high, to Sakatoko's village, which has been built below the vertical precipice on the northern side of the mountain, but still halfway up the slope.”
The excavations revealed much pottery including stamped ware and decorated pottery from the 13th to 19th century; pottery objects included parts of female and animal figurines and dagga pipe bowls and spindle whorls made of clay. A number of iron arrowheads and blades were recovered, iron anklets and bangles and pieces of slag indicate smelting was taking place, although no furnace site was located. Stone artefacts included a pendant, quartz polishing stones, a granite hammer and grinding stones. Miscellaneous finds included shells. Some glass and metal beads were recovered and gold and copper rings.
The presence of a deep cave set among the walls would have been the focal point in any traditional religious centre. One of the huts would have been a bareya…a religious house which would have been occupied by a spirit medium. Inside a platform would hold offerings to the spirits and posts would be hung with the spirit medium's regalia. This hut appeared to be divided and it was suggested by local informants that this might be an ante-room with a step for persons to kneel in the presence of the spirit medium. In another hut sacrifices of young cattle or goats would take place with pots of beer and ritual snuff placed on raised platforms.
Roger Summers observed that this is one of the few sites in Zimbabwe where the thick dhaka moulding was skilfully preserved due to the careful archaeological work carried out by Sheila Rudd. These has been recorded within the huts of other Zimbabwe enclosures, but usually destroyed during excavation.