Gradings

The site consists of various walls constructed with local, flat sandstone, without any form of
cement. These flat stones where stacked in a double row and the space between these rows
infilled with smaller stones. The two rows of walling taper out at the top resulting in a broader
base and narrower top. This resulted in a sturdier construction. No evidence of foundations
was found. The overall shape of the stonewalled portion of the site is that of an oval. The
average length of the stonewalled area is approximately 55 m and its width are 30m. It consists
of an “outer wall” and internal walling that separates the internal space into separate spaces.
The center of the settlement spans the top of a hill where evidence of a large residential deposit
can still be seen. The chief’s enclosure (muzinda) was built on top of a knoll at the eastern end
(Huffman & Hamish 1986). It is in this internal space that the suggested grave of Makahane
can be found.
The front of this area faces west, while long U-shaped walls form the back. This back area is
in an equivalent position to the Eastern Enclosure at Great Zimbabwe, where several soapstone
birds were found. In Shona cosmology the east is associated with sacred activities, and this
east back area can be identified as the site of rituals involving royal ancestors. According to
Shona custom, areas such as these should contain at least one hut for the chief's drums and
other sacred objects, a second hut for brewing ritual beer, and space for the congregation.