Katuta Mabwe - Songo: uma construção em plataforma na província de Tete, no distrito de Cahora Bassa (séc. XVIII AD)

Abstract

The present work entitled “Katuta Mabwe – Songo: A Platform Construction in the Province of Tete, in the District of Cahora Bassa (18th century AD)” aims to analyze the structure of the construction on the Songo platform, with a view to understanding the likely functions performed by its different compartments. This analysis, which was based on the comparison of Songo with the other main walls of the Zimbabwe-Khami Tradition in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, namely: Manyikeni, Niamara, M`bire Nhatekwe, Great Zimbabwe, Mapumgubwe and Khami. Buildings related to the Zimbabwe-Khami Tradition consist of two types: the walled in itself and the houses of dhaka, pole and thatch. Two known techniques are Zimbabwe-Khami architecture namely, Free-standing wall (Raised stones that formed the wall, inside which the dwelling houses of the elite were built manager) and Retaining Wall (platform constructions, on top of which the so-called dwelling houses that were also owned by the ruling elite). Songo is the chosen example of platform construction, as the object of study of this work. The acquired knowledge, based on comparison with the remaining walls of the Zimbabwe-Khami Tradition, in Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe, help to interpret the platform functions of the Songo (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)