Songo Mnara World Heritage Site
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Songo Mnara a 14th—16th C World
Heritage Site is located at 09002’24.09’’S and 39035’05.82’’E,
in Lindi region, southern Tanzania. Few glazed Islamic sheds recovered at the
site do, however, suggest some occupation before the middle of 14th
C. The site lies about 12 km south of
Kilwa masoko, below Kisiwani Island. The area is accessible through boat and
takes about an hour trip from KilwaMasoko port.
Songo Mnara heritage site is recognized as one of the
most impressive of all Swahili townscape. Its built heritage comprises of five
mosques, over 40 coral houses and rooms block, several cemeteries, and three
enclosed space. The exceptional preserved ruins have enabled archaeologist to
reconstruct how Swahili town were planned and unplanned. Moreover,
archaeological excavation within and around the building has contributed to the
understanding of household activities, social classes, public and communal
practice in the open area and monument of the site among many other.
Apart from built heritage, several archaeological
materials have been recovered from archaeological excavations. These includes but not limited to local and
imported pottery, beads, and fauna remains. Of importance, these materials
have enabled us to understand interaction of Swahili society with the interior
or external world. For instance, Chinese porcelain recovered from
archaeological excavation indicates that by 14th -16th C,
the society of Songo Mnara were trading with people from china. Furthermore,
excavations within the houses have revealed the household production of cotton
thread through concentrations of spindle whorls obtained in some of the rooms,
and processing of crops in the interior spaces.
Like Kilwa Kisiwani, SongoMnara heritage site was
inscribed as UNESCO world heritage site in 1981. As a consequence, the site is
protected and became the subject of various international laws. At the national
level, the properties are legally protected through the existing cultural
resource policy (2008), Antiquities Law (the Antiquities Act of 1964 and its
Amendment of 1979) and established Rules and Regulations.
Despite having international recognition as world
heritage site with significant outstanding values, and protection from national
and international laws, the conservation of the site is relatively poor. The
site is succumbed with the factors like an inadequate community participation
and awareness of associated benefits, poor conservation programme for built
heritage and site as whole, increased wave action and beach erosion, and
encroachment on the site by humans and animals.
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