Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi

Why it mattersKey Soninke Ghana (Awdaghust) → Wagadu ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.

Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.

Built

c. 500 CE early stone; palace 800 CE; mosque 1100 CE

Period

Ghana Empire (300–1240 CE peak 800–1070 CE Wattasi/Awdaghust description)

Culture

Soninke Ghana (Awdaghust) → Wagadu

Purpose

Ghana Empire capital (120 ha) with stone palace, 15 mosques and merchant town — al-Bakri's 1067 described metropolis 'Ghana gold city' with two towns

Rediscovered

Modern excavation 1933

Excavation

Excavated

1. c. 500 CE early stone; palace 800 CE; mosque 1100 CE

   Initial construction / first occupation at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi

2. 1950 excavation

   Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi

3. c. 200 CE major extension

   Major expansion / refurbishment at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi

• Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Principal Structure

  structure

  structure at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — subsidiary complex

  15.7658° N · 7.9655° W

• Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Complex Annex 2

  complex

  complex at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — outlier feature

  15.7624° N · 7.9647° W

• Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Rock_Art Annex 3

  rock art

  rock art at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — outlier feature

  15.7621° N · 7.9652° W

• Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Structure Annex 4

  structure

  structure at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — subsidiary complex

  15.7646° N · 7.9645° W