MIDLANDS STATE UNIVERSITY
DEPARTMENT OF ARCHAEOLOGY, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND MUSEUM STUDIES
B.A HONOURS DEGREE IN ARCHAEOLOGY, CULTURAL HERITAGE AND MUSEUM
STUDIES (HARCHMS)
COURSE TITLE: PREHISTORY OF ZIMBABWE (ARC 204)
COURSE SYNOPSIS
The course examines the development of archaeology in Zimbabwe. The course situates archaeological
research in Zimbabwe within the socio-political and historical context that gave rise to and shaped it. The
course also builds on two earlier courses ie Prehistory of Africa (ARC 112) and Prehistory of southern
Africa (ARC 113). The course therefore deepens and broadens the study of prehistory, with particular
reference to Zimbabwe. The course will trace the main stages in the development of human cultures from
c.3 million BP to the 19th century AD and examine the ceramic sequences and traditions from different
parts of Zimbabwe and show how they relate to other traditions in the southern African region.
COURSE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
 To provide an overview of the history of Archaeology as a discipline in Zimbabwe and identify
the various phases which the discipline went through.
 To enhance student knowledge of the main stages in cultural developments that humanity went
through on the Zimbabwe plateau.
 To enable students to place various important that took place in Zimbabwe within the broader
African context.
COURSE OUTLINE
Introduction
Archaeology in Zimbabwe: Origins and Growth
The developments of Stone Age archaeology research
The developments in Farming Community studies
Future of archaeology in Zimbabwe
The Zimbabwe Plateau
The physical geography
Past and present environments
The Stone Age
Technology-Early, Middle and Later Stone Age
Subsistence exploitation patterns
The appearance of sheep and pottery and hunter gatherer-farmer contacts
Case study: South Western Zimbabwe
The rock art of Zimbabwe
Techniques of execution
Subject matter
Art styles and distribution
Dating problems
Interpretation
Case Study: Matopos and the Eastern Highlands
The Early Farming Communities
Sites and distribution
Ceramic traditions and cultural developments
Economy, subsistence patterns and socio-political organization
Early trading contacts and regional interactions
Transformations: Evolution of chiefdoms-case study of Zhizo and Leopard’s Kopje communities.
Late Farming Communities
Sites and distribution
Ceramic traditions and cultural developments
Economy, subsistence patterns and socio-political organization
Case study: Harare, Musengezi, Ingombe Ilede traditions and the Nyanga Complex
Complex State Systems
Theories and definitions
Development and demise of state systems(i) Mapungubwe state 1220-1290 AD
(ii) Great Zimbabwe State 1270-1500A.D.
(iii) Khami period 1450-1830 A.D.
(iv) Mutapa State 1450-1900 AD
(v) Ndebele State
Course Assessment
Students are assessed through tutorials, assignments and a final examination. A student should satisfy
coursework requirements which constitute 25% of the final assessment. The examinations constitute 75%
of the final assessment. Tutorials are compulsory to all students taking the course.
Reading list
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Beach, D.N. 1994. The Shona and their Neighbours. London: Blackwell
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T.P.Thondhlana August 2006