The Lost Cattle of Great Zimbabwe: Bones, Blood, and Power

In this episode, Lucas and Luna dig into the archaeology of cattle at Great Zimbabwe, moving beyond the romantic images of stone walls to the bones, blood, and social power that shaped the kingdom. They explore how cattle were not just wealth but the very currency of politics, marriage, and spiritual authority. Through the work of scholars like Peter Garlake and the analysis of faunal remains, they reveal how the elite manipulated cattle ownership to create and maintain a stratified society. From the prized Nguni cattle to the rituals of lobola, the episode traces the cattle's journey from pasture to political tool, and how the Great Zimbabwe's decline may have been linked to overgrazing and ecological strain. Listeners will meet the 'cattle lords' of the dzimbabwe and learn how a single cow could seal alliances or spark conflict. This episode offers a fresh, grounded perspective on one of Africa's most iconic archaeological sites. #GreatZimbabwe #Cattle #NguniCattle #Lobola #PeterGarlake #FaunalRemains #ZimbabweHistory #SouthernAfrica #Archaeology #Subsistence #Power #Shona #Mwari #Dzimbabwe #Overgrazing #CattleLords #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo