The Production, Distribution and Consumption of Metals and Alloys at Great Zimbabwe

Residents of Great Zimbabwe engaged in localized metal craft production and consumption, with evidence suggesting homestead-level metallurgy activities. The study reveals that metals sourced from local and regional areas fueled long-distance trade with the Indian Ocean rim, challenging previous assumptions about the site's economic organization. This research integrates archival, chronological, fieldwork, and laboratory-based analyses to reconstruct the metallurgical practices of Great Zimbabwe, providing new insights into its material culture and trade networks.

Bandama, F., Moffett, A. J., Thondhlana, T. P., & Chirikure, S. (2016). The Production, Distribution and Consumption of Metals and Alloys at Great Zimbabwe. Archaeometry, 58(S1), 164–181. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/arcm.12248