Somalia

 

Warsheikh 14^th-present Class 2, G-P Mainland Shore.

Enrico Cerulli uncovered coins from the medieval Sultans of Mogadishu in Warsheikh. According to Cerulli, similar coins were found in the village of Mos (Moos), located about 14 km to Warsheikh's northwest. Freeman-Grenville (1963) also record another discovery of ancient coins in the latter town.

Mogadishu 12^th-present Class 1, F-U Mainland Shore.

Oral traditions say the founding was in the 10th century, and D. Jama 1990 thinks it is probably pre-Islamic and says that the earliest part of the city, Hamar Jajab, has not yet been excavated.

See my webpage on Mogadishu.

Gezira 9^th-10^th and 15^th century Class 4, G-P Mainland Shore.

Very close to Ras Ta-Rim mentioned by Al-Saghani in 1252.

See my webpage on (Ta)Rim: Gezira.

Merka 12^th-present Class 2, F-U Mainland Shore

See my webpage on Merca.

Munghia: 11^th-18 or 19th^th century (6.5ha) Class 3, G-P Mainland Shore.

20km southwest of Merka. A large area enclosed except on the sea side by a defence wall with two gateways on east and west in ruins. Within the enclosed area is a collapsed stone building and, adjacent to it on the west, a ruined mosque with an unusual fluted semi-dome. Traces of other buildings survive east and northeast of the mosque. The imported ceramics include sgraffiato ware (11^th-12^th century) and celadon and monochrome Islamic ware (c. fifteenth century).

Barawa 12^th-present Class 1, F-U Mainland Shore.

See my webpage on Barava.

Kisimayu 15^th-16^th century Class 3, F-P Mainland Shore.

Might be the place of Djubb or close to it. Djubb was first mentioned by Yakut in 1220.

At Kisimayu Elliot reported bones, pottery and beads eroding out of the sand at about 1.5 to 2 m depth. He also reported house foundations, a mosque ruin, a water conduit and a landing, on and below a headland facing the bay to the north. Chittick found no buildings of antiquity in the town itself. It is reported by Prins that Brenner saw a small fortress at Kisimayu.

See my webpage on Jub.

Ngumi 15^th -17^th century Class 3 G-P (Bayuni Island).

Elliot reported, near a sheltered anchorage in a small cove, a site that he described as covering only a few acres, although closely built over and surrounded by a wall. Chittick described it as a substantial settlement with stone houses. A cemetery is located on the southwest side, overlooking the sea, including a number of tombs of the step-end type. (Also a big Mosque). Ngumi was supposed to have been destroyed by the Portuguese, presumably in the last years of the 17th century.

Chovai 15^th-16^th century Class 3 F-P Island shore.

On the ocean side of Chovai Island, at a location known as Lukuva, Elliot found a ruined mosque on a hill, another small mosque, two houses, a walled sepulcher and other graves. Chittick found no pottery there, but suggested a 15th-16th century date on the basis of the architecture. An undated tombstone was discovered in the cemetery of the modern village.

Chula 15^th-17^th century Class 2 G-P Island Harbour.

(Tula) Island seems most notable for its funerary constructions, although toward the north end of the island are to be found a mosque and some house ruins. In this area is the pillar tomb mentioned  by Kirkman with the Canton jar atop its pillar, as well as, seemingly, a celadon bowl (13^th-15^th centuries Southern China) in its face. Elliot mentions that "single tombs, in various stages of decay, occupy the summit of hillocks all about" in this northern area, and that "many are merely surrounded with a low wall raised at the corners; others are entirely covered in like a sarcophagus, but nearly always with a small hole at one side for burning incense. Facing the southern lagoon is a tomb with decorated panels, between which are two small niches at the height of the top of the panels; on the east wall are three elongated tombstones, each capped by small cylinders. This tomb is clearly related to two tombs at Ishakani and to a tomb at Kiunga in Kenya. The best-dated of these tombs is probably late 14^th or early 15^th century, although the other two might well have been built later. Nearby is a more recent, but interestingly decorated house.

Bur Gao 15^th-19^th century Class 2, G-P Creek Harbour.

Might be Malawan which is mentioned by Ibn Majid 1470. It has an excellent harbour, and is in the area thought to be 'Shungwayai Singwaya', a legendary Bantu kingdom of antiquity, and possibly one of the trading emporia mentioned in the Periplus, but nothing but relatively late Islamic and other ceramics have been found there in surveys and test excavations.

See my webpage on Malavan : Bur Gao.

Myandi 14^th-15^th century 2ha inside the town wall.

The site of Myaandi is 300 m from the beach and 12km N of Kiamboni, its surrounding wall is very poorly preserved with a height of only 70 cm in places. It surrounds a small hill with stone buildings. According to the surface material, the city dates back to the 14th-15th century. (Sanseverino, 1983: 151-164)

Kiamboni 14^th – 16^th century. Class 3 G-P but area inside town wall about 10ha.

Kiamboni, the southernmost place on the Somali border. FitzGerald wrote (1898) along a very rocky coral seashore, I came upon a high stone pillar and a ruined mosque and tombs, then a little further on I found more ruins, and about a mile beyond still more. These last Included an old stone archway. In 1868, Richard Brenner visited Kiamboni, where he noted the ruins of large buildings, mosques and wells.

Kenya

 

Ishakani late 14^th-16^th century (3.7ha) Class 3, P-U On the mainland shore.

Located about 9 km north of Kiunga, Ishakani comprises three main areas of monumental architecture: a central group with two mosques and tombs, which was the area of the ancient settlement, a tomb group to the north of this main group, and another group of tombs northeast of the main group.

Kiunga late 14^th-16^th century (3.5ha) Class 3, F-P On the mainland shore.

The site of old Kiunga lies to the west of the projecting headland, on dunes along the southern anchorage. Traces of ancient occupation are evident on the beach. Two pieces of Sasanian-Islamic pottery from the beach and one from Kiungamuini Island opposite suggest the possibility of occupation, or perhaps visitation, of Kiunga in the ninth-tenth century period.

Old Kiunga seems concentrated in two areas. The main site is located along the eastern-most extension of the southern beach, just where the dunes meet the fossil coral that forms the headland. Extant surface remains include traces of a mosque and its mihrab and at least four monumental tombs. About 500 m west southwest of the main site are a number of four tombs and another highly ruined mosque.

Mwana Mchama late 14^th-16^th century (1.8ha) Class 3, F-P On the mainland shore.

The standing ruins consist of a mosque, a tomb and one of the most impressive old houses on the coast, as well as several other low mounds and sometimes exposed walls that indicate other collapsed structures, probably mostly houses. It would not be more than about five acres. Stylistically, this mosque is Garlake’s early classic type, dated to the late fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Around the mosque several tombs and a large round pillar that fell in the largest tomb. The pillar still has the central portion of a black and turquoise blue bowl remains in the central niche. These Kashan ceramics in Iranian contexts are dated late twelfth to early fourteenth centuries.

Omwe 14^th century to early 17^th century Class 2 (8ha) F-P Mainland harbour.

All Omwe is divided into three parts: Omwe proper, containing 3 mosques, tombs and pillars some fallen and a series of houses, now much in ruin and surrounded by a town wall; Makubani one, two or more tombs; and Ndhee Mote, with three of the best tombs of Omwe.

Shee Umuro 15^th-16^th century (0.6ha) Class 4 P-U Tidal Channel harbor  (2 km S of Omwe).

The site includes a small settlement (0.5ha), four large tombs with several pillars and a few small tombs. A more or less circular wall surrounded the settlement, within which were a number of structures, probably mostly houses. It is about 130-150 metres north to south, and at least 100 metres east to west, perhaps 1.5 hectares. The wall and all structures within are quite ruined.

Uchi Juu 15^th-17^th century (0.8ha) Class 4 P-U Island tidal. (1km S of Shee Umuro).

On a small island created by the channel at high tide. The small area of the site was circled by a town wall, within which were houses and a mosque. Most of the structures are much broken down, but one house has most of its walls standing to almost full height, and eroded niches are extant on one of the walls. The walls of the mosque have fallen, and all that remains to any height is the mihrab. The surface collection from Uchi Juu included fifteenth century celadons, Islamic monochromes and manganese purple wares, Chinese blue and white porcelains of the late sixteenth to early seventeenth centuries, beads, iron and iron slag.

Shee Jafari Late 14^th-early 17^th century Class 3 (4ha) P-P Tidal Channel harbor (3.5km S of Omwe).

It was a settlement of two mosques, several stone houses, a tomb with pillar and well, the whole surrounded by a town wall. One house is particularly well-preserved, with surviving wall niche designs of three arched niches over two rectangular niches abutting the door frame. An excavation in front of the pillar, found green and blue Islamic monochromes and two slivers of celadon among the local sherds. In the pillar was a celadon bowl 15 cm in diameter set into its masonry, fifteenth century.

Dondo 14^th-15^th century Class 4 (2.4ha) F-P Mainland Tidal Channel.

It includes two mosques, two distinct cemeteries one pillar, and a stone house that might be Portuguese. Chittick collected ceramics included black on yellow and celadons. One tomb has a bowl inset that Horton identified this ceramic as Mamluk sgrafiato. Another one was dated to the 13^th century.

Faza 15^th-present (3.5ha) Class 3 F-P Island Tidal Channel.

The Swahili ruins include three mosques and some tombs.

See my webpage on Faza Ali (Faza ).

Siyu 10^th-present (6ha) Class 1 F-P Island Tidal Channel.

The site is 22ha. The antiquities consist of a fort (19^th) on the north side of the tidal channel and the mosque within, and the remains of the old settlement to the southeast, which includes the three mosques, 19 stone house remains, some tombs (18^th-19^th) and remnants of the old town wall.

Howard Brown in his history of Siyu, a town on Pate Island, from the 11^th to the 19^th centuries:

While not extensively involved in trade, Siyu was a thriving community of weavers and embroiderers, woodworkers, leatherworkers, metalworkers, copyists, and book binders. It was, in short, a prosperous though ordinary town, overshadowed by its wealthier neighbors, Pate and Lamu.

Siyu was probably founded in the 11^th century as a mud and thatch village, but by the 16^th century it had grown into a large stone town.

Shanga 10^th to 15^th century Class 2 (10ha) F-P Island Tidal Channel.

Shanga started as a small settlement in the 8^th century. Surface remains include a central Friday mosque, two smaller mosques, pillar tombs, and about 220 houses. Occupation at Shanga ceased in the early fifteenth century. Shanga is about 15 hectares in area, with 8.68 hectares of stone structures and pottery scatters and 2.94 hectares dedicated to cemetery areas (Horton 1996:33). Of the settlement area, the stone town occupied about 6.6 hectares, with another 2.11 hectares dedicated to homes of mud and thatch, generally in the northwest portion of the site. There are three mosques at Shanga. The houses in stonetown probably had thatched roofs, and were the main type of domestic structure from the tenth to the fourteenth centuries. Not until around 1325 were walls bonded with lime mortar developed directly out of the mud-mortared types. The new bonding agent gave greater wall strength and permitted the flat masonry roofs characteristic of later Swahili architecture.

Mbui 14^th to 18^th century (1.5ha) Class 4 P-P Island Tidal Channel.

On Pate Island. From among the thousands of local sherds that litter the area, our surface collection comprised 2 sgrafiato sherds, 17 celadon pieces, 21 Chinese blue and white porcelains, 24 Islamic monochrome sherds. Although traces of other stone structures could be seen, the only standing ruin was a mosque. Horton reports that Wilding’s excavation produced distinct ninth-tenth century and fifteenth century deposits at Bui (1996:24).

Pate 14^th to present Class 1 (27ha) P-P Island Tidal Channel.

Pate started as a village in the 8^th century.

See my webpage on Batta (Pate)

Manda 8^th-17^th century Class 2 (18ha), G-P Island harbour.

This is a site extensively excavated and studied.

See my webpage on M-l-n-d-s (Manda).

Takwa end 15^th – end 17^th century (4.3ha) on Manda Island.

The intra-muros agglomeration extends 4.3 hectares and includes 137 stone houses. A main East-West street cuts the city into two parts. The Friday mosque stands in a quadrangular enclosure of 30m by 38m, placed in the center of the city. The city is protected by a 3m high urban wall with a triangular section top hat.

Kitau 15^th-17^th century (2ha) Class 4, F-P Island Tidal Channel.

See my webpage on Kitava (Kitao or Kitau).

Lamu 8^th -9^th century: 11^th-present Class 1 (25ha), G-P.

Maybe this town, was settled earlier than the 11^th century. No extensive excavations have ever been carried out.

See my webpage on Lamu old Town.

Shela 17^th-present (4.1ha) Class 3, F-P Island harbour.

Shela was already an international trading place in the 8^th-10^th century according to ceramic finds.

See my webpage on Shela (on Lamu island).

Kipungani 18^th-present (2ha) Class 4, F-P Island harbour.

It was already an international trading place in the 8^th-10^th century according to ceramic finds. At Kipungani, on the southwest side of Lamu Island, are a ruined mosque, some tombs, and scatters of pottery. The mosque stands to its full height, though in bush; it was probably a three aisle “southern” type. Many tombs are also found.

Mea 15^th-16^th century (1ha) Class 4 F-P Creek.

Described by Abungu 1990 as a considerable site with low walls, mosque and tombs close to mangrove creek in the Lamu Archipelago and with imported pottery.

Kiponozi 13^th-14^th century Class 3 F-P Island Creek.

Described by Abungu 1990 as a considerable site at the head of the creek Mto wa Kimbo with a large Friday Mosque and another mosque, stone house, wealthy tombs.

Luziwa 14^th -16^th century (2ha) Class 4.

Is located in a continental cove in the south of the Lamu archipelago. It has a few stone houses, two mosques and a surrounding wall, the whole being occupied from the 14th to the end of the 16th century. (Horton, 1984 : 368).

Mwana 12^th-17^th century Class 2 (15ha), P-U Mainland shore.

Mwana is a large site consisting of the settlement proper including at least four mosques, houses and a few tombs, and a group spectacular tombs situated picturesquely atop a little hill about 800 metres northeast of the main site.

Sections of several houses still stand in Mwana, but the real extent of the settlement is revealed by the monotonous mounds of rubble similarly oriented all over a large area. One has to walk over acres and acres, seemingly, of ruined structures, almost totally below the surface, and marked only by the uniform ups and downs of the mounds.

Shaka 15^th-17^th century Class 3 (5ha), P-U Mainland shore (very close to Mwana).

See my webpage on Chika (Ras Shaka).

Ungwana 10^th-17^th century Class 1 (18ha), P-U Mainland shore.

The size and large population of this site are difficult to explain in regard to its poor harbour facilities.

See my webpage on Hudani or Hawadani (Ungwana).

Ngomeni ?^th -15^th century or later. Class 4? G-P Creek harbour.

Mentioned by ibn Majid as Kuluma.

See my webpage on Ras Kuluma (Ras Ngomeni).

Mambrui 9^th-16^th century Class 1 P-U Mainland shore.

See my webpage on Mambrui.

Malindi 13^th-present Class 1 (17ha), P-U Mainland shore.

Included are the tombs on the coast NW 3km from Malindi and the Jemadari mosque at 5km NW on the coast.

See my webpage on Malindi.

Gedi 13^th-early 17^th (18ha) Class 1 No Harbour

See my webpage on Gedi/Gede.

Kilepwa late 12^th- middle 17^th (1.5ha) Class 3 P-P Creek harbour.

Is a site on an island in Mida Creek, consisting of a mosque, some tombs and some 3 big houses.

Kirkman on the basis of local and imported ceramics and porcelains dated it from the last half of the 12^th century through the second quarter of the 17^th century. Around the creek are some other smaller sites. Watamu on the coast with a 16^th century mosque; Mgangani is the site of a mosque southwest of Gedi, near the upper reaches of Mida Creek; near Watamu, are a mosque and two tombs named for the area, Kiburugeni. On the north bank of the entrance to Mida Creek is a small mosque. Through these sites and the creek Gedi was able to import-export.

Kilifi 14^th-15^th century Class 4 (4ha) nothing remains P-P Creek channel.

Several close by sites also belong to Kilifi: Mnarani, Kitoka, Kioni, Taka-Unga.

See my webpage on Kalfa (Kilifi).

Jumba la Mtwana 11^th-early 15^th century (4.5ha) Class 2, F-U Mainland Shore.

Very close to Mtwapa. The name of the city means the big house of slaves. Several enclosures have been built in the city and cover an area of 75m2. They have been interpreted as cattle pens, but they could be slave pens.

See my webpage on Minwafa bay (the Mtwapa estuary).

Mtwapa 15^th-17^th century (5ha) Class2, G-P Mainland Tidal River.

Little work has been done on this excellent potential port area, located in a large estuary.

See my webpage on Minwafa bay (the Mtwapa estuary).

Mombasa 6^th-present (60ha) Class 1, P-P.

No large excavations have ever been made on the island.

This town, in spite of its Poor harbour, like Pate, exerted considerable influence in the 13^th -16^th century period.

See my webpage on Mombasa.

Wasini 18^th-present (2.4ha) Class 3, F-P Island shore.

There was an older settlement as 13^th to 16^th century ceramics were reported from Wasini (McKay 1975:239)

See my webpage on Vacini (Wasini).

Vumba Kuu 15^th-17^th century (5.2ha) Class 2, P-P Mainland Creek.

On the Kenya-Tanzania border, little archaeological research, other than survey, has been done here. A high mound, presumably the town wall, circles part of the western section of the site on the south and east sides. The total area might have been 14 acres. The western section was a settlement area. About 150 m to the east, across the tidal channel and atop a small hill, is a mosque. A second mosque at Vumba Kuu has been reported by McKay (1975).

Tanzania

 

TANZANIA PEMBA

Msuka Mjini, N Pemba Island 15^th century.

Near the northern tip of Pemba Island. Mosque 300m from beach with outline of ship carved. Walls. Local and imported pottery. Horton & Clark, 1985: 25

Mkia wa Ngombe, NW Pemba Island 12^th to 15^th century (>1ha).

Mosque, tombs and houses on a narrow peninsula jutting into a wide bay. 1.4m of midden deposits including animal bone, imported and local pottery interleaved with sandy deposits Horton & Clark, 1985: 23-5.

See my webpage on Hadra (Pemba).

Mduuni, Ukutani, NW Pemba Island 14^th century.

200m along beach Mosque and well. Can be reached by sea or path from modern village. Opposite side of creek to Mkia wa Ngombe Horton & Clark, 1985: 23

See my webpage on Hadra (Pemba).

Tumbe, Pemba Island 8^th to 12^th century.

30ha Either a large single town or a series of occupations, comprising a number of smaller-sized villages or towns Fleisher and LaViolette, 1999: 68-70.

See my webpage on Hadra (Pemba).

Chwaka, Pemba Island 15^th to 16^th century.

30ha Stone remains of 10 houses, two mosques and pillar tombs along with wattle and daub houses and a population in the thousands. The area is located amongst sandy soils appropriate for coconut, rice and other crops and sprawls over a small bluff with spectacular views of a bay. Imported pottery.

Horton & Clark, 1985: 18; Fleisher & LaViolette, 1999: 64; LaViolette, 2000: 50, 55, 57.

See my webpage on Hadra (Pemba).

Shengejuu, E Pemba island 15^th century

Mosque and imported shards along cliff Horton & Clark, 1985: 31.

Kimeliani, Fundo Island, W Pemba 15^th century.

Mosque similar to that at Ras Mkumbuu on top of cliffs next to beach Horton & Clark, 1985: 21.

Mtambwe Mkuu, W Pemba island 11^th to 14^th century, 17^th century to present (15ha).

Deep water on north and west side of islet, linked to Pemba at low tide by shallow water. On a small peninsula with a central ridge. The entire island is used for settlement including a roughly rectangular plateau with walls defining its perimeter. The interior comprises a mosque, tombs, walls, beads, imported pottery and a ceremonial building. There was a Mtambwe hoard of small silver coins. Houses mostly of timber were on the low-lying areas below the plateau adjacent to the beach. Horton & Clark, 1985: 25-7; Chittick, 1982: 57; Horton & Middleton, 2000: 123

See my webpage on Hadra (Pemba).

Ras Mkumbuu, W Pemba Island 11^th to 16^th century (12ha).

On a cape jutting out into the sea nearly opposite Tanga. It is made an island during high springs when around 1m of water covers part of the peninsula of sandy meadows and muddy lagoons. The land is not suitable for cattle. Shallow wells intermittent supply of brackish but drinkable water. Along the north shore in the lee of a tall ridge are the ruins of four stone houses, tombs and two mosques. From the ridge a wide view could be obtained and shards indicate it may have been used as a lookout post. Ship graffiti and imported pottery Kirkman, 1959: 161, 170; Horton & Clark, 1985: 29-31.

See my webpage on Hadra (Pemba).

Pujini, E Pemba Island 15^th century 1.5ha.

Mosque, rampart with revetment walls and ditch, reception hall, square well, stairs leading up the rampart near a low corner tower beside the creek. In area of low lying, no view in any direction, relatively hot temperature with clayey soil and frequent limestone outcrops along with abundant rice and other agricultural fields. Elite stone architecture with about 100 residents. May have been the fortified ‘treasury’ sacked by the Portuguese in 1520 Horton & Clark, 1985: 28; LaViolette, 2000: 50; Fleisher & LaViolette, 1999: 64, 68; LaViolette, 1989: 35.

See my webpage on Hadra (Pemba).

See my webpage on Medieval Swahili Caravanserai.

Bandari ya Faraji, 2km south of Pujini, Pemba Island 9^th century 1.5 to 2ha.

Abuts mangrove with a stone lined well. TIW was found beneath a large baobab suggesting a small habitation site or activity near a sandy beach whose deposits have been eroded by the encroachment of dense mangrove LaViolette, 2000: 55; LaViolette & Fleisher, 1995: 62.

Mtangani, E Pemba Island 14^th to 15^th century.

Mosque with ship graffiti. On plateau with steep slope down to beach Horton & Clark, 1985: 27.

Shamiani, Kiweni Island, SE Pemba 14^th to 16^th century c. 2h.

Mosque facing Pemba Island on coral cliff overlooking creek. Well 208m away with scatters of pottery in between. More local and imported pottery at beach at foot of cliff with 0.5m of ocupation midden exposed in section. Horton & Clark, 1985: 31.

Mitondooni, Panza Island, S Pemba Green celadon (13^th-15^th centuries Southern China) Extensive early site.

Mosque and well. Celadon and local pottery. 200m from mosque to pottery scatters at village Horton & Clark, 1985: 23.

 

TANZANIA ZANZIBAR

Jongowe, Tumbatu Island, Unguja 12^th to 13^th century 25h.

No water supply. Stone ruins including mosque and houses Horton & Clark, 1985: 8-9.

Fukuchani, NW Unguja 5^th to 8^th century.

At the 5ha site of Fukuchani, fragments of Mediterranean pottery, in this case amphorae, probably dating to the fifth century, have been unearthed (Horton and Middleton 2000, p. 32). And also two Chinese coins of the fourteenth century.

See my webpage on Minchar (Nungwi Mnarani and Fukuchani site.

Mkokotoni to Shangani, NW Unguja 9^th to 16^th century.

3km of beach with shards. Midden cliff, coins, imported pottery, stonewalls. Related to Tumbatu settling there during period of trouble. Shangani is eastward extension beyond mangrove creek. Horton & Clark, 1985: 10-11.

See my webpage on Ras al-Hamam.

Zanzibar Stone Town 12^th century to present.

Centre of Zanzibar Gereza. Below the Zanzibar Gereza was earlier midden deposit of animal bone, local and imported pottery. Horton & Clark, 1985: 13-4.

See my webpage on Zanzibar.

Unguja Ukuu 6^th to 10^th century 15ha.

Covers the neck and shoulder of a narrow peninsula with the sea and offshore islands protecting a beach to one side and a mangrove creek on the other. The main middens including oyster shell, animal bone, iron slag and daub are spread along the creek. Horton & Middleton, 2000: 44; Horton & Clark, 1985: 11-2.

See my webpage on Unguja Mkuu.

Kizimkazi, SW Ungija 9^th to 19^th century.

Mosque, house, tombs and enclosure wall. Midden of early sgraffiato, shell and animal bone Horton & Clark, 1985: 9.

Consists of: Kizimkazi (Mkunguni) which was a walled city; Kizimkazi Dimbani where the mosque is, is 3km NW from the walled city; and Makunduchi is about 10 km east from Kizimkazi the walled city.

See my webpage on Samakamand; (Kizimkazi Mkunguni).

TANZANIA MAFIA

Mafia Kisimani, Mafia Island 13^th to 16^th century 4ha.

Situated about 1km from the tip of the cape of and cut off from most of Mafia Island by mangrove swamps. Traces of building and occupation debris; and trading evidence are eroding onto the shore. 3 mosques and 3 wells Chittick, 1961: 2, 4, 11.

See my webpage on Mafia Island.

Kua Island, Mafia Island 14^th to 15^th century.

Mosque and pillar tomb ARDA, 1960: 22-4.

And on the tiny Chole island besides it were Chinese sherds of 14^th -15^th century discovered.

See my webpage on Mafia Island.

Jibondo Island, Mafia EIA (between 2nt BC and 6^th century), post 13^th century

15^th century mosque, celadon shards Chami, 1999: 4; ARDA, 1960: 25.

See my webpage on Machihuabili; (Shungu Mbili).

See my webpage on Mafia Island.

 

TANZANIA REST

Kisiju 9^th to 13^th century.

Sgraffiato ARDA, 1960: 22; Fawcette & LaViolette, 1990: 21, 25.

See my webpage on Kuvala (Kwale Island close to Kisiyu).

Mtanga Makutani 9^th to 15^th century, 18^th century.

On spit in jangwani; Ruins of a mosque, stone houses, and a defensive wall ARDA, 1960: 25; Wynne-Jones, 2005: 137.

Kilwa Kisiwani EIA (between 2nt BC and 6th century) (early iron age), 8^th century to present 10ha.

Cemeteries, 5 mosques, seawalls, stone houses, palace Chittick, 1974.

All areas with ruins on the island together cover 44.5ha.

See my webpage on Kilwa (Kilwa Kisiwani).

Husunis, Kilwa Kisiwani EIA (between 2nt BC and 6th century) (early iron age), +14^th century 2ha Palace, commercial court, storage rooms Chittick, 1974: 174, 204.

See my webpage on Kilwa (Kilwa Kisiwani).

Kipakoni, Kilwa Kisiwani 14^th to 15^th century.

Small mosque Chittick, 1974: 172.

Mvinje, Kilwa Kisiwani 14^th to 15^th century (close to Kipakoni).

Small mosque Chittick, 1974: 172.

Songo Mnara Ruins, Kilwa 14^th to 16^th century, 18^th century.

3ha Palace, 6 mosques, tower, graveyard, town wall possibly 18^th century, stone houses Chittick, 1974: 8; Sutton, 1998: 158-161; Pradines & Blanchard, 2005: 23-5.

See my webpage on Vamizi (Songo Mnara).

Sanje ya Majoma, Kilwa 14^th to 16^th century.

2 mosques, stone houses Chittick, 1974: 8; ARDA, 1960: 28.

Sanje ya Kati, Kilwa 11^th to 13^th century (4ha).

Mosque, stone house Chittick, 1974: 8; ARDA, 1960: 28.

Mkuje, Songo Mnara 14^th to 15^th century, 18^th century.

2 panelled tombs of earlier date and one of later ARDA, 1980: 28.

Majumbe, Roanga 15^th century.

Mosque, stone house, 3 tombs ARDA, 1960: 28.

Kiswere Harbour 15^th century Mosques, houses and tombs ARDA, 1980: 28.

Mozambique

 

Quirimba Islands

Quirimba: A survey found at least one Swahili building and some tombs in the SW of the island.

Ibo Island 1150-1300 and 17th to 19th shards; but no stone ruins were found.

Matemo Island: 15th century mosque and tombs. In 1592 Joao dos Santos mentions the ruins of a large stone settlement on this island; destroyed by the Portuguese.

See my webpage on Sindjadi or Bandar Darwis (The Quirimba Islands).

Somana 11^th -15^th century Class 3.

Situated about 100 km north of Ilha de Moçambique (and N of Nacala). Architectural stone constructions are found on a small island and on the mainland a wall and pottery scatters cover 2–3 hectares. All of the constructions are made from coral stone with lime and sand mortar, and some of the walls show evidence of being covered by plaster. On the basis of Lumbo pottery and architecture, the site has been dated to between the twelfth and fifteenth centuries (Duarte 1993, pp. 68–70). But Somana was inhabited prior to the building of the coral structures as is evidenced by the occurrence of Monapo tradition pottery.

Mozambique 14^th century to present; but no stone-town.

See my webpage on Mucanbidji (Mozambique island).

Angoche 6^th century and 9^th-10^th century and 13^th to present but no stone buildings.

See my webpage on Dandama (Angoche).

Sofala/Sayuna 10^th-? century Class 3, F-U.

Very little is known of this site as it has been eroded or submerged by the sea. It is mentioned repeatedly by early Islamic geographers and by the Portuguese. It is not the present day Sofala.

See my webpage on Sofala.

Chibuene 5^th-10^th century 13^th-present Class 4, F-U; but no stone-town.

A type of pre-Islamic pottery seen at Ras Hafun was found here, and some burials did not show the proper type of Islamic orientation. Was it a Swahili settlement?

See my webpage on Charbuh or Sadbuwah islands (Chibuene).

Comoros

 

See for all these places my webpage on the Comoros.

NZWANI OR ANJOUAN

Sima 9^th-16^th century Class 2, G-P.

See my webpage on Comoros.

Domoni 11^th-present 40ha.

See my webpage on Comoros.

 

MAORE OR MAYOTTE

Hanyundru 11^th -13^th century Class 4.

See my webpage on Comoros.

Bagamoyo 9^th- 13^th centuries; The site is stretching for 2500m.

See my webpage on Comoros.

Dembeni 9^th-13^th century Class 2, G-P

See my webpage on Comoros.

Tsingoni 13^th-16^th area of 8.5 ha.

See my webpage on Comoros.

Acoua, a Ki-bushi (Malagasy) village (12th to 15th centuries AD) 2.5ha.

See my webpage on Comoros.

 

NGAZIDJA OR GRAND COMOROS

M 'Bachile 9^th-16^th century at least 4ha only 15^th century mosque; no stone houses.

See my webpage on Comoros.

Ntsaouéni 7^th-15^th century till 19^th has big stone-town.

See my webpage on Comoros.

 

MOHELI

Mwali Mdjini 15^th-end 18^th century 8ha of ruins.

See my webpage on Comoros.

Mro Dewa 9^th-15^th century Class 3, F-U.

See my webpage on Comoros.

Madagascar

 

WEST COAST

Sadah (Nosy Be) 11^th-16^th -present; NW coast. There is no town or stone buildings. We have a whole group of hamlets spread out over the island where imported ceramics were found.

See my webpage on Sadah (Nosy Be).

Mahilaka 9^th-14^th century Class I, F-P ? N-West Coast.

The city of Mahilaka is located at the northern end of the island, in Ampasindava Bay. Founded in the 10^th or 11^th century, the settlement succumbed at the end of the 15^th century under the blows of the Itongomaro dynasty. The Mahilaka enclosure protects an area of 60ha. A large structure, was built near the main mosque in the center of the city. This fortified residence, 30m long, has its own trapezoidal enclosure of 3.8 ha. The enclosure wall is 1.05m or 60cm thick depending on the location, or one to two cubits. Its maximum height reaches 3.7m high, with a triangular section of 60cm at the top. A wall, which remains 40cm high, divides the enclosure into two parts. During his excavations, Pierre Vérin unearthed numerous forge remains; perhaps it was a metallurgical workshop.

Langany 14^th-17^th century Class 2, G-P NW coast.

See my webpage on Lulugan; Landjani; Lulugan =Langany; Lulangane (now Nosy Longany.

Kingany 14^th-17^th century Class 2, G-P NW coast.

See my webpage on Anamil (Kingany).

Malawin 15^th-?? Century W coast.

Port mentioned by Ibn Majid 1470; exact location unknown. But in the area North of Maintirano at several places we have the furthest South Swahili building-ruins under which a medieval site can be.

See my webpage on Malawin (North of Maintirano?)

 

EAST COAST

Ramena village.

Bandar Bani Ismail (Antsiranana); 1050–1350 AD shards found in a wide area but no stone settlement.

See my webpage on Bandar Bani Ismail (Antsiranana).

lrodo 9^th-17^th century Class 4, F-P N-East Coast; but no stone buildings.

Three villages on the beach and one on the estuary of the Irodo river each grew to cover about 1.5ha by the time the settlement cluster reached its final form. The working of chlorite-shist was well developed to create perforated discs as net weights but also vessels for export. Shards of Sassano-Islamic ware have been found there.

Vohemar 14^th-17^th century Class 1, G-P NE coast.

See my webpage on Bimaruh / Layrana (Vohemar) or (Bemanevika ???)

Nosy Boraha – St Marie Island 13^th century till present.

Gazirat al Anbar of Ibn Majid 1470 no settlement has been found on the island so far but on the opposite mainland several places yielded medieval shards 13^th-16^th century.

See my webpage on Gazirat al Anbar (Nosy Boraha – St Marie).