THE DIM PAST

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 11 August 1925, Page 5

THE DIM PAST

RFJ.ICS DISCOVERED. IN SOUTHERN RHODE,STA. ETC ITT TO 10,000 YEARS’ OLD. dY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT Received August 11, 10.33 a.m. CAPETOWN Aug. 10. Edward Eossiter has made an important archaeological discovery in the wonderful terrace ot ruins at Inyanga, Southern Rhodesia. Ten feet deep he found an urn containing five copper bangles. The urn crumbled to dust. The bangles are of pure copper. It is estimated that they are eight thousand to tea thousand years -o-d, and the work of a people skilled in refining minerals.— A. and N.Z. Assn.

The outstanding interest or prehistoric Rhodesia lies in its innumerable mine-workings, as well as in upwards of .500 ruined stone structures scattered over an area of 700 mi'es square between the Zambesi and Limpopo rivers*. The workings, sometimes descending 150 ft., are estimated to have moved more than 100,000,000 tons of reef.

Of the strongholds, which were formed of small granite blocks, some display skilful work, while others are inferior, being often of undressed blocks. At Inynnga are many hill-fronts besides hundreds of stone-lined pits, extensive aqueducts, and remains of stone-walled terraces. They point to a highlydeveloped agriculture, based on irrigation. and Arab influence is suggested. In some of the structures important objects, such as Nankin China, cowboy herds and Indian fabrics betray medieval trading activity.