DRAMATIC FIND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 July 1939, Page 9

DRAMATIC FIND

IN CAVES NEAR ZIMBABWE RUINS. CHAMBER CONTAINING SEVERAL SKELETONS. An inner chamber containing several skeletons was found by the party which explored caves discovered three three miles south-east of the Zimbabwe Ruins, stated the Johannesburg Star recently. The caves are believed to be connected with the puzzle of the origin of the ruins, which have defied archaeologists and scientists from all parts of the world. Before the inner chamber was reached several grain silos, made of mud and sand, were found stretching from floor to roof of the cave. Brass bangles, estimated to be well over 100 years old, were scattered on the floor of the inner chamber. Numerous examples of native pottery were found in the corners of the cave and several passages were blocked by ornaments of all sizes which bore similar markings of a criss-cross pattern round the edges. ■Mr E Maughan, of Fort Victoria, who led the expedition, was the first to enter after a difficult journey through the dense bush which surrounds the caves. Several times the party lost the faint track, which follows a line of cliffs in the vicinity. Equipped with torches and candles the party descended almost a quarter of a mile in a north-westerly direction.’ Stalactites and pools of water were passed on the way through the narrow passage. After two hours the inner chamber was reached after a difficult climb down a sharp incline. Numerous examples of pottery and brasswork, as well as dried herbs, were scattered about the floor. After searching the chamber the party returned to the surface. The cave originally belonged to the Matalonga tribe, who fled to the caves during various rebellions against the Matabele. Mr F. Sheppard, the discoverer of the caves, stated that there was a possibility of the caves being originally occupied during the construction of Zimbabwe, as they are situated near the old road to Sofala from the ruins. It is anticipated that the examples of pottery and ornaments found in the cave will be submitted shortly tc experts for examination.