Verified4.9800° S · 39.6800° E · 5 m
Mkokotoni Ruins — Pemba North
Swahili (13th–15th c. CE)·Swahili·🇹🇿 Pemba Island, Tanzania
About
About Mkokotoni Ruins — Pemba North
Mkokotoni Ruins — Pemba North in Pemba Island, Tanzania is a Swahili (13th–15th c. CE) ancient-city attributed to Swahili. Port town with Friday mosque on Mkokotoni creek. Pemba north port with 13th c. mosque and Songo-style tombs.
Why it mattersKey Swahili centre in the Pemba Island
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronological seriation
- 02Trade network evidence
Theories
- 01Long-distance Indian Ocean trade
- 02Kushite royal succession
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 13th c. CE
- Period
- Swahili (13th–15th c. CE)
- Culture
- Swahili
- Purpose
- Port town with Friday mosque on Mkokotoni creek
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 13th c. CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Reisner/Kirkman survey
On the ground
Structures & features
4.9800° S · 39.6800° E · 5 m · 4 mapped features
Mkokotoni Ruins — Pemba North — Great Mosque
mosqueFriday mosque with mihrab and pillar tomb
4.9798° S · 39.6801° EMkokotoni Ruins — Pemba North — Stone House Cluster
houseCoral rag house compound
4.9802° S · 39.6802° EMkokotoni Ruins — Pemba North — Town Enclosure
enclosureOuter enclosure or creek defence
4.9796° S · 39.6798° EMkokotoni Ruins — Pemba North — Cistern Cluster
cisternPlastered cisterns
4.9804° S · 39.6799° E