Tongoni Ruins

The Tongoni Ruins (Magofu ya kale ya Tongoni in Swahili) are a 15th century Swahili ruins of a mosque and forty tombs located in Tongoni ward in Tanga District inside Tanga Region of Tanzania. The largest and possibly most significant Swahili site in Tanzania is Tongoni, which is located 25 km north of the Pangani River. Overlooking Mtangata Bay, about forty standing tombs and a Friday mosque of the "northern" style occupy a third of a hectare. People from the area continue to worship there spiritually. They bury their departed family members to the south of the historic tombs. 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. The site is a registered National Historic Site.

Tongoni
Pillar tomb at Tongoni
Shown within Tanzania
Location Tanzania,
Tanga Region,
Pangani District,
Tongoni ward,
Coordinates6°22′59.88″S 39°33′0″E
TypeSettlement
History
MaterialCoral rag
Founded14th century CE
Abandoned17th century CE
CulturesSwahili
Site notes
Excavation dates1981
ArchaeologistsRichard Gramly
ConditionProtected
OwnershipTanzanian Government
ManagementAntiquities Division under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Tourism
Architecture
Architectural stylesSwahili & Islamic
Official nameTongoni Historic Site
TypeCultural
Protected
Tongoni Ruins
Coral plaster detail, Tongoni ruins
Coral Work detail
Details 3 Tongoni.
Tongoni ruins detail
Details Tongoni
Tongoni ruins distance
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