The island of Bwejuu is one of the islands of the Mafia archipelago on the central coast of Tanzania. It is only 15 km off the Rufiji Delta and its inhabitants carry out cultivation activities on the delta. The Rufiji delta has been considered by several scholars to be the location of the elusive ancient Azania’s metropolis of Rhapta. Past research on the island established that it was of the 16th–18th centuries post-Swahili civilization. This research has verified that finding although underwater work on the south-east part discovered pottery attributed to ancient transoceanic activities, possibly arriving from either the Mediterranean region or probably Oman or Indian regions. Sites with trade remains from those regions have been discovered on the Delta and Mafia archipelago. Also, an underwater site with wall-like structures believed to be remains of a long-submerged ancient settlement has recently been found in the northwestern waters of Mafia Island. The site has drawn attention of some archaeologists who believe it could be the long-lost metropolis of Rhapta. The new findings from Bwejuu Island may suggest that there are several trading sites in the region of the Mafia archipelago and the Rufiji Delta as outskirts of a large settlement which could be Rhapta. This study collected data through archaeological surveys and test excavations. Data analysis involved pottery attribute analysis and metric dating by thermoluminescence method.
| DOI | 10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14 |
| Published in | International Journal of Archaeology (Volume 9, Issue 1, June 2021) |
| Page(s) | 24-33 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Mafia Archipelago, Bwejuu Island, Rufiji Delta, Transoceanic, Rhapta, Pottery
| [1] | Bufure, A (2012) “Further Archaeological Research around Misimbo Lake, Rufiji Region, Tanzania,” In Chami, F. and C. Radimilahy (eds), Studies in the African Past, Vol. 10, pp. 47–63. |
| [2] | Cason, L (1989) Periplus Maris Erythraei. Princeton: Princeton University Press. |
| [3] | Chami, F (2021) “The Geographical extent of Azania,” Theoria 68, 167: forthcoming |
| [4] | Chami, F (2006) The Unity of African Ancient History: 3000 BC to AD 500. Dar es Salaam: E & D Vision Publishing. |
| [5] | Chami, F (2004b) “The Egypto-Graeco-Romans and Panchaea/Azania: sailing in the Erythraean Sea,” In Lunde, P. and A. Porter (eds), Trade and Travel in the Red Sea Region: proceedings of the Red Sea Project. BAR International Series 1269. |
| [6] | Chami, F (2004a) “The Archaeology of the Mafia Archipelago,” In Chami, F., Pwiti, G. and C. Radimilahy (eds), Studies in the African Past, 4: 73–101. |
| [7] | Chami, F (2000) “Further Archaeological Research on Mafia Island,” Azania, Vol. 35: 208–214. |
| [8] | Chami, F (1999) “The Early Iron Age on Mafia Island and its relationship with the mainland,” Azania 34: 1–10. |
| [9] | Chami, F. and Mapunda, B. (1998) “The 1996 archaeological reconnaissance north of the Rufiji Delta,” Nyame Akuma 49: 62–78. |
| [10] | Chami, F. and Msemwa, P (1997b) “A New Look at Culture and Trade on the Azanian coast,” Current Anthropology 38 (4): 673–677. |
| [11] | Chami, F. and Msemwa, P. (1997a), “The Excavation at Kwale Island, South Dar es Salaam, Tanzania,” Nyame Akuma 48: 45–56. |
| [12] | Chittick, N (1982) “Reconnaissance in Coastal Tanzania,” Nyame Akuma 20: 57–58. |
| [13] | Chittick, N (1961) “Kisimani Mafia: excavations at an Island settlement on the East African coast,” Antiquities Division Occasional Paper. Dar es Salaam. |
| [14] | Chittick, N (1957) “Mafia Group,” Mafia Island District Book – History: Tanzania National Archives. |
| [15] | Christie, A. (2011) “Exploring the Social Context of Maritime Exploitation in the Mafia Archipelago, Tanzania.” Unpublished PhD Thesis: University of York. |
| [16] | Crowther, A., M. Horton, A. Kotarba-Morley, M. Prendergast, E. Morales, M. Wood, C. Shipton, D. Fuller, R. Tibesasa, W. Mills and Boivin, N. (2014) “Iron Age agriculture, fishing and trade in the Mafia archipelago, Tanzania: new evidence from Ukunju Cave,” Azania 49, No. 1: 21–44. |
| [17] | Datoo, B (1970) “Rhapta, the location and importance of East Africa’s first port,” Azania 5: 65–75. |
| [18] | Freeman-Grenville, G (1962) The Medieval History of the Coast of Tanganyika. London: Oxford University Press. |
| [19] | Gupta, S. (2016) “Contact between East Africa and India in the first millennium CE,” In G. Campbell (ed), Early Exchange between Africa and the Wider Indian Ocean World. Palgrave Series in Indian Ocean studies, pp. 157–171. |
| [20] | Hayes, J. W (1997) Handbook of Mediterranean Roman Pottery. London: University of Oklahoma Press. |
| [21] | Horton, M. and F. Chami (2018) “Swahili Origins,” In S. Wynne-Jones and A. LaViolette (eds), The Swahili World, pp. 135–146. London: Routledge. |
| [22] | Horton, M. and J. Middleton (2000), The Swahili: the social landscape of a mercantile society. Oxford: Blackwell Publishers. |
| [23] | McLaughlin, R (2018) The Roman Empire and the Indian Ocean. Yorkshire: Pen and Books. |
| [24] | Ryano, M. P, A. D. Shikoni, F. A. Chami and A. Sutton (2020) “The Cultural History of Kisimani Mafia Stone Town Site, Mafia Archipelago, Tanzania: findings from re-excavation of the site,” Archaeologies. |
| [25] | Shikoni, A., G. Manzinali, M. Peter, E. Kessy, T. Ombori and F. Chami (2019) “Report of the Re-excavation of Ukunju Limestone Cave in Juani, Mafia Archipelago, Tanzania: more evidence of ancient transoceanic trade connections,” Man and Environment XLIV (2): 29–40. |
| [26] | Tomber, R (2004) Indo-Roman Trade: from pots to pepper. London: Duckworth and Co. |
| [27] | Wheeler, M (1955) “Archaeology in East Africa,” Tanganyika Notes and Records 40: 43–47. |
| [28] | Wynne-Jones, S (2006) “Reconstructing the Long-term History of the Mafia Archipelago,” Unpublished Report Submitted to COSTECH and the Antiquities Department, Tanzania. |
APA Style
Mandela Peter Ryano, Felix Arkard Chami. (2021). A Find of Transoceanic Pottery at Bwejuu Island of the Rufiji Delta and Mafia Island, Tanzania: More Clue to the Elusive Ancient Azania’s Metropolis of Rhapta. International Journal of Archaeology, 9(1), 24-33. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14
ACS Style
Mandela Peter Ryano; Felix Arkard Chami. A Find of Transoceanic Pottery at Bwejuu Island of the Rufiji Delta and Mafia Island, Tanzania: More Clue to the Elusive Ancient Azania’s Metropolis of Rhapta. Int. J. Archaeol. 2021, 9(1), 24-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14
AMA Style
Mandela Peter Ryano, Felix Arkard Chami. A Find of Transoceanic Pottery at Bwejuu Island of the Rufiji Delta and Mafia Island, Tanzania: More Clue to the Elusive Ancient Azania’s Metropolis of Rhapta. Int J Archaeol. 2021;9(1):24-33. doi: 10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14,
author = {Mandela Peter Ryano and Felix Arkard Chami},
title = {A Find of Transoceanic Pottery at Bwejuu Island of the Rufiji Delta and Mafia Island, Tanzania: More Clue to the Elusive Ancient Azania’s Metropolis of Rhapta},
journal = {International Journal of Archaeology},
volume = {9},
number = {1},
pages = {24-33},
doi = {10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ija.20210901.14},
abstract = {The island of Bwejuu is one of the islands of the Mafia archipelago on the central coast of Tanzania. It is only 15 km off the Rufiji Delta and its inhabitants carry out cultivation activities on the delta. The Rufiji delta has been considered by several scholars to be the location of the elusive ancient Azania’s metropolis of Rhapta. Past research on the island established that it was of the 16th–18th centuries post-Swahili civilization. This research has verified that finding although underwater work on the south-east part discovered pottery attributed to ancient transoceanic activities, possibly arriving from either the Mediterranean region or probably Oman or Indian regions. Sites with trade remains from those regions have been discovered on the Delta and Mafia archipelago. Also, an underwater site with wall-like structures believed to be remains of a long-submerged ancient settlement has recently been found in the northwestern waters of Mafia Island. The site has drawn attention of some archaeologists who believe it could be the long-lost metropolis of Rhapta. The new findings from Bwejuu Island may suggest that there are several trading sites in the region of the Mafia archipelago and the Rufiji Delta as outskirts of a large settlement which could be Rhapta. This study collected data through archaeological surveys and test excavations. Data analysis involved pottery attribute analysis and metric dating by thermoluminescence method.},
year = {2021}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - A Find of Transoceanic Pottery at Bwejuu Island of the Rufiji Delta and Mafia Island, Tanzania: More Clue to the Elusive Ancient Azania’s Metropolis of Rhapta AU - Mandela Peter Ryano AU - Felix Arkard Chami Y1 - 2021/04/07 PY - 2021 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14 DO - 10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14 T2 - International Journal of Archaeology JF - International Journal of Archaeology JO - International Journal of Archaeology SP - 24 EP - 33 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2330-7595 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ija.20210901.14 AB - The island of Bwejuu is one of the islands of the Mafia archipelago on the central coast of Tanzania. It is only 15 km off the Rufiji Delta and its inhabitants carry out cultivation activities on the delta. The Rufiji delta has been considered by several scholars to be the location of the elusive ancient Azania’s metropolis of Rhapta. Past research on the island established that it was of the 16th–18th centuries post-Swahili civilization. This research has verified that finding although underwater work on the south-east part discovered pottery attributed to ancient transoceanic activities, possibly arriving from either the Mediterranean region or probably Oman or Indian regions. Sites with trade remains from those regions have been discovered on the Delta and Mafia archipelago. Also, an underwater site with wall-like structures believed to be remains of a long-submerged ancient settlement has recently been found in the northwestern waters of Mafia Island. The site has drawn attention of some archaeologists who believe it could be the long-lost metropolis of Rhapta. The new findings from Bwejuu Island may suggest that there are several trading sites in the region of the Mafia archipelago and the Rufiji Delta as outskirts of a large settlement which could be Rhapta. This study collected data through archaeological surveys and test excavations. Data analysis involved pottery attribute analysis and metric dating by thermoluminescence method. VL - 9 IS - 1 ER -
Information
Email: