Wall & Gateway’s of Zanana

The overall configuration of walls defining the enclosures of the Royal Center has already been outlined; here we examine the specific features of those stone walls which still stand. The basic construction consists of two tapering stone faces, with earth and rubble infill, that meet at the top; through out no mortar is used. Some portions of the walls stand almost 7m. The base of the wall is about 1.6m thick; at the top it tapers to about 45 cm, where a small brick and mortar cap is found. In those parts of the walls that appear to be earlier, the blocks are squarish, well dressed, and tightly joined. As the walls ascend the blocks reduce in size, and are laid with a distinctive irregular pattern. These walls are remarkable for excellent quality of construction. Here the slabs are large and long, well dressed, and extremely tightly jointed; tie beams are introduced at regular intervals.

Connecting one enclosure with another are large gateways, now only preserved in their lower stone portions, varying from simple schemes to complex combinations of passageways and courts. The considerable are that these entry complexes occupy within the confined space of the enclosures suggests the importance of controlling all access. In their simplest and most monumental form, the gateways consist of two rectangular platforms defined by stone basements, separated by a central passageway. In the middle of this pas¬sageway the mouldings are usually interrupted by a recess to open doors, and sometimes there are indications of door jambs and a threshold; the central beam over the passageway has socket blocks and a lotus medallion.