Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara History, Travel Information, Facts And More
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
Rate Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara as World Heritage Site here
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Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
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Tanzania
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Tanzania
RUINS OF KILWA KISIWANI AND RUINS OF SONGO MNARA PICTURE
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About Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara was a stone town belonging to the 14th to 16th centuries located in some parts of Tanzania. It was constructed using rough-coral and mortar. It was an important trade town situated close to the Indian Ocean. The archaeologists have discovered about six mosques, two dozen house blocks, and four cemeteries, and enclosed open spaces at the site. It was designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1981.
Some Lesser Known Facts About Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara
- Many artifacts were found which helped the archaeologists to study the people who used to live there.
- Though there are many houses in the location House number 44 is different. The archeologists noticed that it is an individual house and is more complex than other houses. They did excavations in each room of this house. It has a plaster floor which hinders the excavation process. The ceramics found in this house belongs to the 15th century.
- The Kilwa-type coins were found under the floor in the 2011 excavation at Houses number 31,34 and 40.
- The central mosque is faced towards the tombs which gives a hint about the people here cared for the dead ones.
- According to the great traveler, Ibn Battouta who visited here in 1331-1332, Kilwa was one of the most beautiful cities throughout the globe.
- They used to trade with India, the Arabian, and China and exchange gold and ivory for silver, Chinese porcelain, Persian faience, and perfumes. Both of the towns flourished between the 13th and 16th centuries while their decline began in the 16th century when the Portuguese made a fort on Kilwa Kisiwani.
- There is also the oldest standing mosque called The Great Mosque in East Africa.
- The site is a threat of damage due to agriculture activities, new buildings, invasion by vegetation, and inundation by the sea, and was put on Danger's list in 2004. It needs conservation and protection, otherwise, all of the historical structures will collapse leading to the destruction of the property and the history related to the place.
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