Researchers using a new non-invasive 'Acoustic-Seismic' AI mapping platform have identified a series of previously unknown subterranean voids beneath the Great Enclosure of Great Zimbabwe. Unlike traditional ground-penetrating radar, this technology uses low-frequency sound waves to create high-resolution 3D maps of deep structural foundations without any excavation.
The identified chambers are believed to be 11th-century granaries or ritual drainage systems that were strategically integrated into the granite masonry foundations. This discovery provides new evidence of the advanced engineering and urban planning capabilities of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, allowing heritage managers to monitor structural stability in real-time.