The Shona people built the stone city of Great Zimbabwe in present-day Zimbabwe.
Great Zimbabwe was a major settlement and political center built between roughly the 11th and 15th centuries by ancestors of today’s Shona-speaking peoples. The site is famous for its dry-stone walls, constructed without mortar. Its name comes from a Shona expression associated with stone houses or revered settlements.
The ruins include the Great Enclosure, the Hill Complex, and the Valley Ruins. The Great Enclosure contains a massive curved wall and a distinctive conical tower. Great Zimbabwe’s location supported control of regional trade in gold, cattle, and other goods. Archaeological finds, including imported Chinese and Persian ceramics, show that the settlement was connected to Indian Ocean trade networks.
European colonial writers once promoted false claims that the ruins had been built by foreigners. Archaeology has demonstrated their African origin and the role of local societies. Great Zimbabwe became a national symbol after Zimbabwe’s independence and was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1986.