Written by Tawanda Mushweshwe
Walking Through Zimbabwe’s Ancient Farming Landscapes at Ziwa National Monument
This blog follows my earlier AGRI-DRY reflection, “Is the Juice Worth the Squeeze?”, which explored the challenges of preparing for and conducting archaeological fieldwork in Zimbabwe. This time, I want to share what those months in the field revealed about one of Zimbabwe’s most remarkable cultural landscapes.
When people hear that I am an archaeologist, they often imagine treasure hunts and dramatic discoveries. The reality is rather different, but in many ways even more fascinating.
In 2026, I spent several months carrying out archaeological fieldwork at Ziwa National Monument in eastern Zimbabwe as part of my PhD research on ancient farming landscapes in the Nyanga Highlands. My research forms part of the wider AGRI-DRY project, an international research initiative investigating how past and present societies have adapted to environmental challenges and changing climates. The project is supported by the European Union and the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) organisation, bringing together researchers from across Africa and Europe.
Through archaeological survey, excavation, and the verification of features identified from satellite imagery, I sought to better understand how ancient farming landscapes at Ziwa were organised and how people interacted with them over time. Rather than searching for spectacular treasures, our work focused on documenting the traces of everyday life preserved across the landscape.
This journey would not have been possible without the incredible team I worked with, including fellow AGRI-DRY doctoral candidates Thamary Mukuya and Mncedisi Taala, colleagues from the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe and the University of Zimbabwe, and supervisors from the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Botswana. Together, we surveyed hillsides, recorded archaeological features, excavated terraces, and uncovered new stories hidden within the landscape of Ziwa National Monument.
One of the places that left the strongest impression on me was Rutumba Shrine. Unlike many archaeological sites, Rutumba is not simply a place of the past. It remains an active rain-petition shrine and continues to hold cultural significance today. Visiting the shrine reminded me that landscapes such as Ziwa are not only important because of what they tell us about the past, but also because they help us understand how cultural traditions, farming practices, and relationships with the environment can endure across generations.
Another surprise was encountering evidence of iron production in parts of the landscape, including areas around Marinda Range. Seeing agricultural terraces, pathways, settlement features, grinding stones, and furnaces within the same landscape highlighted how many different activities once took place here. Rather than viewing these features separately, we began to appreciate Ziwa as a connected and dynamic landscape shaped by many aspects of daily life.
As archaeologists, we often arrive with questions and leave with even more. The terraces, pathways, shrines, settlements, evidence of iron production, and other archaeological features documented during our fieldwork are helping us ask new questions about how people lived, farmed, and adapted to changing environments over time. Through projects such as AGRI-DRY, these ancient landscapes are becoming part of wider conversations about resilience, sustainability, and the long-term relationship between people and the land.
Acknowledgements
This fieldwork forms part of my ongoing PhD research within the AGRI-DRY project. I am deeply grateful to everyone who contributed to the success of the field season.
Special thanks go to fellow AGRI-DRY doctoral candidates Thamary Mukuya and Mncedisi Taala for their collaboration and companionship in the field. I am also grateful to my supervisors Prof. Alex Schoeman and Prof. Jasper Knight from the University of the Witwatersrand, Dr. Olaotse Lokwalo Lekone from the University of Botswana, and Prof. Carla Lancelotti from Universitat Pompeu Fabra for their guidance and support throughout the research process.
I would also like to thank my mentors, Prof. Stefano Biagetti from Universitat Pompeu Fabra and Prof. Frank Neumann from North-West University, for their encouragement and valuable advice.
My appreciation extends to Mr. S. Mapiti and Mr. T. Manjengwa from the University of Zimbabwe, as well as Mr. Johannes Mudondo, Mr. Evans Mubata, Ms. Nomsa Chivende, and Mr. Hilarie Nyabudukuru from the National Museums and Monuments of Zimbabwe, whose support and expertise were invaluable during fieldwork.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge AGRI-DRY co-leaders Prof. Marco Madella and Prof. Nicki Whitehouse, whose vision, leadership, and successful acquisition of funding made this international research programme possible. The AGRI-DRY project is funded through the European Union’s Horizon Europe programme and supported by the UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC).
A Final Note
Archaeology is a slow process. While surveying, excavating, and documenting landscapes can provide valuable insights, answering the larger research questions takes time. The reflections shared in this blog are intended for public engagement and do not present final research conclusions. Detailed analyses and interpretations will be developed through future peer-reviewed publications, conference presentations, and my doctoral thesis.
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