NALETALE RUINS

The ruins of Naletale are well preserved. They are located on top of a granite hill, offering beautiful views of the surroundings. The fortifications are probably unfinished and the overall structure is not very large, but Naletale has without doubt the most beautifully decorated walls of the 300 ruins found in all of Zimbabwe: chevrons, checkerboards, lacework, stringcourses and, in addition, reddish-brown banded ironstone inserts, which highlight the upper and lower sections of the walls. The latter are surmounted by six turrets, each of which is highlighted by a vertical piece of granite.

History. The decline of Great Zimbabwe led to the prosperity of the Torwa State, which grew in importance and the capital Danangombe was built in the ^16th century. In the ^17th century the capital was moved to Naletale. This Torwa state flourished between 1450 and 1693. But the wealth of the region caused their loss, the Rozvi came from the northeast to invade. The Rozvi used Naletale as their power base, but for agricultural, commercial and war reasons, their economy gradually declined by the end of the ^18th century. Excavations in 1963 revealed broken pots, similar to those found at Khami and Danangombe, often brightly colored with intricate patterns, white porcelain, sites of iron nail production, twisted copper bracelets, spear heads, and soapstone smoking pipes.