Mtambwe Mkuu — Pemba Island Swahili Town
Swahili (11th–16th c. CE)·Swahili·🇹🇿 Pemba Island, Tanzania
About
About Mtambwe Mkuu — Pemba Island Swahili Town
Mtambwe Mkuu — Pemba Island Swahili Town in Pemba Island, Tanzania is a Swahili (11th–16th c. CE) ancient-city attributed to Swahili. Pemba island Swahili town with mosque and house compounds and Chinese celadon finds. Horton-Fleisher: Mtambwe early Swahili with 10th–11th c. gold and Fatimid glass, mosque 11th c.
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. 11th c. CE
- Period
- Swahili (11th–16th c. CE)
- Culture
- Swahili
- Purpose
- Pemba island Swahili town with mosque and house compounds and Chinese celadon finds
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 11th c. CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Reisner/Kirkman survey
On the ground
Structures & features
5.0400° S · 39.7000° E · 10 m · 3 mapped features
Mtambwe Mkuu — Pemba Island Swahili Town — Great Mosque
mosqueFriday mosque with mihrab and pillar tomb
5.0398° S · 39.7001° EMtambwe Mkuu — Pemba Island Swahili Town — Stone House Cluster
houseCoral rag house compound
5.0402° S · 39.7002° EMtambwe Mkuu — Pemba Island Swahili Town — Town Enclosure
enclosureOuter enclosure or creek defence
5.0396° S · 39.6998° E