Songo Mnara Island: Spatial Qualities.

Songo Mnara is an exceptionally well-preserved ancient Swahili town on the southern Tanzanian coast. It was built of rough-coral and mortar architecture during the late 14th century and then occupied for 100-150 years. . According to Fleisher and Wynne-Jones (2009), Songo Mnara is dominated by the well-preserved remains of more than 40 large domestic room blocks, five mosques, and numerous tombs.

The Songo Mnara is an ancient piece of work and architecture that has an urban setting with a very unique use of public spaces. But why did it stand out as one of the dominant trade centres in ancient times? Was it the material used, the special layout regarding the different structures that were set up or even the foreigners that came by for trade?

Looking at the spatial arrangement, it seemed orderly to the people who operated within it back then. Trade negotiations were carried out smoothly and so were the prayers. The structure however looks scattered around in the space and this creates a sense of confusion for a person studying the history of the Songo Mnara island at this time. The confusion arises from the fact that the public spaces of this island were complex and multi-use spaces.

In this way, the case of Songo Mnara, and the archaeology of public space, offers instructive examples of how urban space emerges not just in urban planning, but in urban practice (Fleisher no date).

REFERENCES:

FLEISHER, Jeffrey, WYNNE-JONES, Stephanie. (2009). Archaeological Investigations at Songo Mnara, Tanzania.

FLEISHER, Jeffery. (No date). How Public Space is Used in Ancient Cities: The Case of Songo Mnara, a Medieval Swahili City in Tanzania