Tumbatu Ruins — Zanzibar North
Swahili (12th–14th c. CE)·Swahili·🇹🇿 Zanzibar Island, Tanzania
About
About Tumbatu Ruins — Zanzibar North
Tumbatu Ruins — Zanzibar North in Zanzibar Island, Tanzania is a Swahili (12th–14th c. CE) ancient-city attributed to Swahili. Island town abandoned abruptly mid-14th c. with stone houses and mosque at Jamboiani. Horton: Tumbatu island town abandoned c. 1390 with intact stone houses and Chinese porcelain.
Why it mattersKey Swahili centre in the Zanzibar 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. 12th c. CE
- Period
- Swahili (12th–14th c. CE)
- Culture
- Swahili
- Purpose
- Island town abandoned abruptly mid-14th c. with stone houses and mosque at Jamboiani
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 12th c. CE
Initial construction
c. 1900 CE
Reisner/Kirkman survey
On the ground
Structures & features
5.8100° S · 39.2200° E · 10 m · 3 mapped features
Tumbatu Ruins — Zanzibar North — Great Mosque
mosqueFriday mosque with mihrab and pillar tomb
5.8098° S · 39.2201° ETumbatu Ruins — Zanzibar North — Stone House Cluster
houseCoral rag house compound
5.8102° S · 39.2202° ETumbatu Ruins — Zanzibar North — Town Enclosure
enclosureOuter enclosure or creek defence
5.8096° S · 39.2198° E