At the ancient Shona centre of Great Zimbabwe (1200–1700 CE), cattle (Bos taurus) were centrally important for economic, social, and symbolic purposes. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr for modern plants collected in southern Zimbabwe vary from 0.7054 to 0.8780 and ranges differ between some geological substrates. ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr in serial samples of Bos taurus tooth enamel provides information on where animals consumed at Great Zimbabwe were raised and how herds were managed. The majority of animals sampled were born and remained for their first year of life in a region some 40–120 km south of Great Zimbabwe. Few animals came from geological substrates like that of Great Zimbabwe itself, and none from areas underlain by basalts (> 120 km south of Great Zimbabwe). Earlier hypotheses of transhumance are not supported. These findings will help to build a fuller picture of the role of local commodities (in this case, cattle) in the economic networks that supported the rise and florescence of Great Zimbabwe as a major centre of power.

在大津巴布韦（公元 1200-1700年）的古老绍纳中心，牛（Bos taurus）对于经济、社会和象征意义至关重要。在津巴布韦南部收集的现代植物的⁸⁷ Sr/ ⁸⁶ Sr 从 0.7054 到 0.8780 不等，并且范围在某些地质基质之间有所不同。Bos taurus系列样品中的⁸⁷ Sr/ ⁸⁶ Sr牙釉质提供了有关在大津巴布韦食用的动物在哪里饲养以及如何管理牛群的信息。采样的大多数动物出生并在大津巴布韦以南约 40-120 公里的地区度过了第一年的生命。很少有动物来自像大津巴布韦本身那样的地质底质，也没有来自玄武岩下面的地区（大津巴布韦以南 > 120 公里）。不支持早期的跨人类假设。这些发现将有助于更全面地了解当地商品（在本例中为牛）在支持大津巴布韦作为主要权力中心的崛起和繁荣的经济网络中的作用。