5IO J<EPORT S.A.A. Advancement of Science. 



{2) Middle Secliun, which lies; between the Lower Section and 

 rhe edge of the slope of the land on the north-east of the 

 Elliptical Temple. 



(3) L'pper Section, including all ruins between the north-east 

 side of the Elliptical Temple ajid the edge of the slope 

 overlooking the lower portions of the " Valley of Ruins." 



Before describing these complicated groups of ruins there are 

 some features represented by them which may be mentioned : — 



{a) Several of these ruins, especially those on the Lower 

 Section, are exceedinglv well and massi\el\ built, the courses mar- 

 vellouslv true, with an absence of straight joints. The curves of 

 the walls are beautifully designed, and are laid on boldly sweeping 

 lines. The material emploved is good, and also most carefully 

 selected. The maso'nrx' of man\ of the walls in the Lower Section 

 is far su])erior to that of several of the divisional walls of the Ellipti- 

 cal Temple and to the majority of the walls on the Acropolis. 



(b) The absence of the angular style of building. Rounded 

 entrances and buttresses and gracefully rounded ends of walls form 

 the prevailing feature of most of these ruins. Two round towers 

 with almost identical measurements, a dozen large and massive semi- 

 circular platfonns also form prominent features. Drains were found 

 (1903) in Philips and Posselt Ruins. 



(c) The Middle Section of the " Valley of Ruins " is poody 

 built, and consists largely of long passage walls. The L'pper Section 

 is well built. 



(d) The discovery in the Lower Section of these ruins of beaten 

 giild and gold tacks, decorated and plain soapstone beams, and 

 relics of the oldest t\pe, including the carved soapstone beam, with 

 bird on summit — the finest specimen ever discovered at Zimbabwe' — 

 found by the avUhor in March, 1903, point to the fact that certain 

 ruins in this section of the " Valley of Ruins " were used for some- 

 what higher purposes than those of forts, worksho'ps, or for housing 

 slaves, possibly, as man}' have suggested, as residences for priests 

 or officials connected with the Elliptical Temple, seeing that the 

 North-east Passage directly connects such well-built and substantial 

 portions of these ruins with the North Entrance and Parallel Pas- 

 sage and Sacred Enclosure, where are the Conical Towers, of the 

 Elliptical Tem])le. 



(c) In the Lower Section of these ruins there are no traces of 

 either ancient or native industries having beeji carrieci on. 



(/) In the Lower Section of these ruins there are fewer signs 

 of modern or even mediaeval occupations bv Makalangas. On this 

 account there has been little of the filling-in of these ruins as is to 

 be noticed at ruins which have been extensiveh occupied by natives. 

 In the Posselt Ruins, however, there are the remains of five very old 

 Makalanga cla\ huts. Very few native articles were discovered here, 

 but such as were found were of very superior make. The .small ex- 

 tent of native occupations of the Posselt, Philips, and Maund Ruins 

 are open to exploration, the floor in some instances being not less 



