Tongoni Ruins

The Tongoni Ruins are 15th century Swahili ruins of a mosque and forty tombs located in Tongoni ward in Tanga District inside Tanga Region of Tanzania. The area was a different place four to five centuries ago. Contrary to its almost unnoticed presence today, it was a prosperous and a respected Swahili trading centre during the 15th century. Most of the ruins are still not yet been uncovered.[1]

Tongoni Ruins
Magofu ya Waswahili wa Tongoni  (Swahili)
Swahili Monumental Tomb
Shown within Tanzania
LocationTanzania
RegionTanga Region
Coordinates6°22′59.88″S 39°33′0″E
TypeMedieval Settlement
Part ofSwahili Culture
History
BuilderSwahili people
MaterialCoral rag
Founded10th century AD
Abandoned16th century AD
CulturesSwahili
Site notes
ManagementMinistry of Natural Resources and Tourism, Antiquities Division
Public accessYes
The Tongoni Ruins in Tanga District

History

Tongoni was established around the tenth century by Swahili residents as part of the Swahili city states dotted along the East African coast.[2][3]

Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese sailor, first visited Tongoni in April 1498. He had the opportunity to eat the local oranges, which he said were better than those available in Portugal. He made a second visit the following year, and spent fifteen days in Tongoni.[4]

Management

The ruins at Tongoni are under the Tanzanian Antiquities department of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism. The ruins are open to the public but there have been no Phase III excavations. Decades ago, a small test excavation was conducted at the site and a site plan was drawn.[5]

See also

References
  1. Mabulla, Audax Z. P. (2000). "Strategy for Cultural Heritage Management (CHM) in Africa: A Case Study". The African Archaeological Review. 17 (4): 211–233. doi:10.1023/A:1006728309962. JSTOR 25130707. S2CID 142911818.
  2. Lane, Paul J. (2012). "Maritime and Shipwreck Archaeology in the Western Indian Ocean and Southern Red Sea: An Overview of Past and Current Research". Journal of Maritime Archaeology. 7 (1): 9–41. Bibcode:2012JMarA...7....9L. doi:10.1007/s11457-012-9102-0. JSTOR 43551368. S2CID 161059259.
  3. Askew, Kelly M. (1999). "Female Circles and Male Lines: Gender Dynamics along the Swahili Coast". Africa Today. 46 (3/4): 67–102. doi:10.1353/at.2003.0084. JSTOR 4187285. S2CID 144367188.
  4. Lane, Paul J. (2012). "Maritime and Shipwreck Archaeology in the Western Indian Ocean and Southern Red Sea: An Overview of Past and Current Research". Journal of Maritime Archaeology. 7 (1): 9–41. Bibcode:2012JMarA...7....9L. doi:10.1007/s11457-012-9102-0. JSTOR 43551368. S2CID 161059259.
  5. https://www.maliasili.go.tz/uploads/Mafanikio_ktk_Idara_ya_Mambo_ya_Kale.pdf


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