Ancient African Civilization Had 'Dhaka Pits' To Capture Water, Survive Drought

Across southern Africa, Great Zimbabwe was the first major civilization. During its peak days, the great city housed over 18,000 people. However, no one currently knows the reason why the great city is in ruins.

According to Science Alert, its ruin is sometimes attributed to drought and a dry climate. However, archaeologists have discovered evidence that the city had intricate systems for conserving water despite experiencing wreckage.

Dhaka Pit: an Intricate Water System

Science Alert notes that a research team comprising specialists from Zimbabwe, England, South Africa, and Denmark has argued that dhaka pits within the city were not for unearthing clay but for catching water. The study was published in Anthropocene.

These dhaka pits are circular and huge depressions that could be spotted across the city. For example, at several hillside bases, many dhaka pits could be spotted to be strategically situated to catch groundwater and rainwater. There are also other pits surrounding the civilization that straddle streams of water.

By gathering rainwater and prohibiting access to certain river parts, the specialists argue that previous residents would have had a stable drinking and agricultural supply throughout the year, even during dry climates. Several of the plant remains that were seen near the pits are also acknowledged to flourish close to groundwater or river sources that carry heightened levels of moisture within the soil. Such findings were later on supported by conversations with the locals and ground surveys.

Aarhus University reports that such a supply of water may have been vital for an urban society that needed a safe water supply for its residents, agriculture, and livestock.

Knowing the exact capacity of the dhaka pits is quite challenging, given that such a study is one of the first to look into these interesting structures. However, estimates suggest that the pits had the capacity to hold more than 18 million liters.

Prehistoric Great Zimbabwe

During the 11th to 15th centuries, when Great Zimbabwe was at its peak, the civilization housed craftsmen, merchants, elites, and religious leaders. All of these individuals would have shared rain and spring water through an intricate water system.

Specialists think that, when the rainy season hit, certain areas would have become marshy and wet. Such specific areas would have been perfect for getting clay for constructing houses. During drier climates, some quarries were converted into reservoirs in order to catch groundwater and runoff from the hills that surround them.

The researchers note how such a system needed maintenance even if it was set up in a comparatively passive way.

Nevertheless, considering these, the recent records reveal that ecological functions, physical forms, and cultural importances of water all affected and were affected by the conservation, management, and approach toward water.

Not much is currently known about this great prehistoric city. There is still a possibility that the city fell into ruins because of climate change, even if there was a careful water system in place. Science Alert notes that there is a need to conduct further research in order for specialists to conclude what really happened to this city and its inhabitants.

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