Tiny pottery shard links Great Zimbabwe to China, while glass beads reveal trade ties

Unearthed at Great Zimbabwe, a shard of jade-green Longquan celadon pottery from China illuminates extensive trade networks linking Africa to Asia and the Middle East. This discovery illustrates the movement of goods across Southeast Asia, the Persian Gulf, and the Indian Ocean. Coupling this with glass beads found in the vicinity, the findings underscore Great Zimbabwe’s importance as a hub in historical trading relations across continents.