New Book Release: Let The Stones Speak Download PDF


Mosque Name: Shanga

Country: Kenya

City:Shanga

Year of construction (AD): 750-799

GPS: -2.125483 41.065378

Gibson Classification: Unknown


Description:

The eaerly mosque is about 1.64 x 2.59 meters, and probably served visiting Arab merchants. Later a larger mosque was built on the same site. The early site was determined by holes in the ground where posts had been pounded in. There has been some controversy around the claim that this was a mosque.


Sketch of the larger mosque

Sketch of the larger mosque


Sketch of the possible smaller mosque.

Sketch of the possible smaller mosque.


References:

Horton, Mark, 1996. Shanga: The Archaeology of the Muslaim Trading Community on the Coast of East Africa, Memories of the British Institute in Eastern Africa 14, London: The British Institute in Eastern Africa, 15, 209-210.

Horton, Mark, 1996. Shanga: The Archaeology of the Muslaim Trading Community on the Coast of East Africa, Memories of the British Institute in Eastern Africa 14, London: The British Institute in Eastern Africa, 15, 216-217.

Horton, Mark, 1991. “Primitive Islam and Architecture in East Africa”, Muqarnas 8, K. A. C. Creswell and His Legacy: 103-116.

Horton, Mark C., 2004. “Islam, Archaeology, and Swahili Identity”, in: Donald Whitcomb (ed.), Changing Social Identity with the Spread of Islam: Archaeological Perspectives, Chicago: The Oriental Institute of the University of Chicago, 67-88. https://oi.uchicago.edu/research/publications/ois/ois-1-changing-social-identity-spread-islam-archaeological-perspectives

For the Changsha Ware: Qin, Dashu, and Ching Ho, Justin, forthcoming. “Chinese Ceramics Exported to Africa during the 9th-10th Centuries – Product Characteristics, Scale and Temporal Variations”, in: Hagit Nol (ed.), Long-Distance Trade in Early Medieval Landscapes, Medieval and Post-Medieval Mediterranean Archaeology Series 4, Brepols.


Page Discussion

Membership is required to comment. Membership is free of charge and available to everyone over the age of 16. Just click SignUp, or make a comment below. You will need a user name and a password. The system will automatically send a code to your email address. It should arrive in a few minutes. Enter the code, and you are finished.

Members who post adverts or use inappropriate language or make disrespectful comments will have their membership removed and be barred from the site. By becoming a member you agree to our Terms of Use and our Privacy, Cookies & Ad Policies. Remember that we will never, under any circumstances, sell or give your email address or private information to anyone unless required by law. Please keep your comments on topic. Thanks!