Ras Mkumbuu Ruins

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Ras Mkumbuu Ruins

Coordinates: 5°11′43.8576″S 39°39′13.31″E / 5.195516000°S 39.6536972°E

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Ras Mkumbuu Ruins
History
Ndagoni complex part of the Ras Mkumbuu Ruins
Shown within Tanzania
Location	Chake Chake District, Pemba South Region, Tanzania
Coordinates	5°11′43.8576″S 39°39′13.31″E / 5.195516000°S 39.6536972°E / -5.195516000; 39.6536972
Type	Settlement
Material	Coral rag
Founded	9th century CE
Abandoned	16th century CE
Cultures	Swahili
Site notes
Condition	Endangered
Ownership	Tanzanian Government
Management	Antiquities Division, Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism ^[1]
Architecture
Architectural styles	Swahili & Islamic

National Historic Sites of Tanzania
Official name	Ras Mkumbuu Ruins Historic Site
Type	Cultural

Ras Mkumbuu Ruins (Magofu ya mji wa kale wa Ras Mkumbuu in Swahili ) are located in Chake Chake district of South Pemba Region. They lie close to the village of Ndagoni at the end of a long narrow peninsula known as Ras Mkumbuu, which lies to the northwest of the town of Chake-Chake.^[2]^[3] The ruins mainly date from the 9th century CE and were abandoned in the 16th century, though there are indications that they were built over older foundations. Notable among these ruins are those of a large mosque which was for some time the largest structure of its type in sub-Saharan Africa. James Kirkman, the first archeologist to excavate here in the 1950s, proposed to connect his findings with the "Qanbalu" mentioned by the Arab explorer Al-Masudi around 900 but could not identify remnants earlier than the 13th century .^[4] A possible identification of Pemba Island as a whole and especially Ras Mkumbuu with Qanbalu is still discussed.^[5]

References

[edit]

^ "Antiquities Division". Retrieved 21 Jul 2022.
^ Spear, Thomas. “Early Swahili History Reconsidered.” The International Journal of African Historical Studies, vol. 33, no. 2, 2000, pp. 257–90. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/220649. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
^ Spear, Thomas. “Swahili History and Society to 1900: A Classified Bibliography.” History in Africa, vol. 27, 2000, pp. 339–73. JSTOR, https://doi.org/10.2307/3172120. Accessed 4 Aug. 2022.
^ Reid, Lane: African Historical Archaeologies (2014), p. 135f
^ Oliver, Oliver & Fagan: Africa in the Iron Age: C.500 BC-1400 AD (1975), p 193f mention the identity as established, other authors not so

Finke, J. (2006) The Rough Guide to Zanzibar (2nd edition). New York: Rough Guides.

v t e Chake Chake District
Capital: Chake-Chake
Wards	Chachani Chanjaani Chonga Dodo Kibokoni Kichungwani Kilindi Kwale Madungu Matale Mbuzini Mfikiwa Mgelema Mgogoni Michungwani Mkoroshoni Msingini Mvumoni Ndagoni Ng'ambwa Pujini Shungi Tibirinzi Uwandani Vitongoji Wara Wawi Wesha Ziwani
Native Peoples	Hadimu
Rivers and Lakes	Lake Mkomani Changedi River
Major Cities and Towns	Gombani Vitongoji

v t e Pemba South Region
Capital: Mkoani
Districts	Mkoani District Chake Chake District
Native Peoples	Hadimu
Islands	Mtangani Island Kiweni Island Yombi Island Panza Island Matumbini Island Matumbi Makubwa Island Makoongwe Island Misali Island Mwangi Island
Major Cities and Towns	Mkanjuni Gombani Chake Chake
National Landmarks	Chake Chake Bay

v t e National Historic Sites of Tanzania
Arusha Region	Olduvai Gorge Laetoli Engaruka Nasera Rockshelter Mumba Cave Peninj
Dar es Salaam Region	Kunduchi Ruins
Dodoma Region	Kondoa Bahi Rock-Art Sites
Iringa Region	Isimila Stone Age Site Kalenga Mlambalasi
Kagera Region	KM2 and KM3 sites Katuruka Nyabusora Katuruka Bweranyange
Kigoma Region	Ujiji Uvinza Salt Works
Kilimanjaro Region	Marangu Defences
Lindi Region	Kilwa Kisiwani Kivinje Songo Mnara Sanje ya Kati Lindi Historic Town
Manyara Region	Luxmanda
Mtwara Region	Mikindani Historic Town
Pwani Region	Bagamoyo Kaole Ruins Chole Island Ruins Kisimani Mafia
Rukwa Region	Kalambo Falls Prehistoric Site
Tabora Region	Livingstone's Tembe
Tanga Region	Tongoni Ruins Toten Island Pangani Vugha Yambe Island
Zanzibar North Region	Tumbatu
Zanzibar West	Stonetown
Zanzibar South Region	Unguja Ukuu Kuumbi Cave
Pemba North Region	Chwaka Tumbe Mkia wa Ng'ombe Msuka Mjini Mduuni Kichokochwe Ruins
Pemba South Region	Mkama Ndume Pujini Ruins Chambani Ras Mkumbuu Ruins Shamiani