The terrace builders of Nyanga / Robert Soper.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Soper, R. C. (Robert C.)

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Terracing--Zimbabwe--Inyanga Region.

Terracing.

Zimbabwe--Antiquities.

Zimbabwe.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (91 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Harare : Weaver Press, 2006.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The stone ruins of the Nyanga area of eastern Zimbabwe have aroused much interest since they were first reported to the outside world at the end of the 19th century. Early fanciful speculations about their meaning have slowly given way to better understanding based on archaeological research, most recently by the University of Zimbabwe in co-operation with the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and the British Institute in Eastern Africa. The ruins represent the remains of family homesteads and extensive stone-built agricultural terraces. Successive stages of development have been traced, starting with settlements on some of the highest peaks around AD 1300 and expanding gradually for five centuries to cover an area of over 5000 square kilometres. These stages show how the farming community adapted to and exploited the opportunities offered by the varied environments of the Nyanga highlands and lowlands to develop a specialised agricultural system integrating cultivation and livestock. In this book, Robert Soper sets out the accumulated knowledge and understanding of the old Nyanga society, in particular the significance of its agricultural works to which the landscape bears eloquent witness.

Contents:

Intro

Table of Contents

List of Illustrations

Preface

Acknowledgements

About the author

Chapter 1 - The Nyanga Complex

Chapter 2 - Settlement Sites and the Development of the Complex

Chapter 3 - Agricultural Works and Water Management

Chapter 4 - Agricultural Economy

Chapter 5 - Society in the Nyanga Complex

Appendix - Radiocarbon Dates for Nyanga Sites

Annotated References and Further Reading.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Description based on print version record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 80-82).

ISBN:

9786612869044

9781282869042

1282869043

9781779221360

1779221363

9781779220950

1779220952

OCLC:

646835915