| Author: | Robin Brown, Sir Wilfred Thesiger | ISBN: | 9780752494906 |
| Publisher: | The History Press | Publication: | April 3, 2003 |
| Imprint: | The History Press | Language: | English |
| Author: | Robin Brown, Sir Wilfred Thesiger |
| ISBN: | 9780752494906 |
| Publisher: | The History Press |
| Publication: | April 3, 2003 |
| Imprint: | The History Press |
| Language: | English |
In the heart of south-central Africa lies an ancient and ruined civilization comprising several thousand stone structures—many as large as modern towns—all surrounded by thousands of abandoned gold mines. The monuments, temples, forts, and sculptures of this Zimbabwe culture are reminiscent of the classic civilizations of the Egyptians and Phoenicians. Yet, when the Royal Geographical Society sent teams to investigate in 1893, the resident natives who were living beneath the walls in thatched clay huts denied any knowledge of the vast civilization that had evidently preceded them and were ignorant of the value of gold. Robin Brown-Lowe uses incontrovertible DNA evidence to demonstrate strong links to the mighty civilizations of ancient North Africa and to propose that the Zimbabwe's gold sustained the gold-hungry pharaohs of Egypt and the famously gold-loving King Solomon and his lover, the Queen of Sheba. Brown-Lowe also reveals how the truth about the Zimbabwe culture has been radically influenced and even suppressed by white and black political interests. This is a gripping story of discovery and detection set in one of the most mysterious ancient civilizations. It will appeal to all those interested in African history and archaeology and to anyone fascinated by lost cities, ruined temples, or abandoned gold mines.
In the heart of south-central Africa lies an ancient and ruined civilization comprising several thousand stone structures—many as large as modern towns—all surrounded by thousands of abandoned gold mines. The monuments, temples, forts, and sculptures of this Zimbabwe culture are reminiscent of the classic civilizations of the Egyptians and Phoenicians. Yet, when the Royal Geographical Society sent teams to investigate in 1893, the resident natives who were living beneath the walls in thatched clay huts denied any knowledge of the vast civilization that had evidently preceded them and were ignorant of the value of gold. Robin Brown-Lowe uses incontrovertible DNA evidence to demonstrate strong links to the mighty civilizations of ancient North Africa and to propose that the Zimbabwe's gold sustained the gold-hungry pharaohs of Egypt and the famously gold-loving King Solomon and his lover, the Queen of Sheba. Brown-Lowe also reveals how the truth about the Zimbabwe culture has been radically influenced and even suppressed by white and black political interests. This is a gripping story of discovery and detection set in one of the most mysterious ancient civilizations. It will appeal to all those interested in African history and archaeology and to anyone fascinated by lost cities, ruined temples, or abandoned gold mines.
