Historic Ruins in Tana River County Ungwana Bay Ruins: Arabian Relics Ungwana, Shaka and Mwana are settlements that grew along Tana River as a result of contact between the natives and the Persian [Arabian] cultures. These interactions evolved into a distinctive outpost, as part of the Swahili Civilisation, extending along the eastern Indian Ocean from Mogadishu in the north, south to Mozambique including both the Comoros and the larger Madagascan island. These three sites are located at the present mouth of the Tana, at Kipini, and extend, in the order above, from Kipini in the south-east across to the north end of Ungwana (Formosa) Bay. Ungwana’s location on the River Tana delta where the river served as a communication route to the interior as well as to the open sea had an important security consideration. According to historians, Ungwana was also known as Hoja, which was at some point invaded by the Portuguese. Ungwana Bay Ruins covers an area of 45 acres and has structures which include: a perimeter town wall, eight mosques, a few houses and several groups of tombs. There are two masjids: an Old and New Masjid (Friday mosques) with plastered walls and domed mihrab, and five smaller mosques, burial tombs and a palace centrally placed. Excavations concentrated in the two masjids (Friday mosques) and in the mosque of the domed mihrab, both intrinsic sites of Ungwana. The work revealed six periods: Period I and II are postulated to have preceded the construction of the two jamias, and are consistent with the dates 1200 to 1250 AD. No plan could be obtained of the earliest constructions that dated to the period 1200 to 1250 AD, but there are stone and plaster walls that suggest that brickwork rose above the lowest courses, indicative of an earlier settlement. At the location of the mosque of the domed mihrab the earliest levels contain evidence of occupation. In the period II level (1250 to 1350), within the area of the two main masjids, more walls were discovered above the initial levels of construction. These turned out to be tombs that pre-dated the later mosques. Ungwana Period III, dating from 1350 to 1450 AD, spans the life of the first construction of the mosque of the domed mihrab, a notable benchmark of Ungwana. Period IV, dating from 1450 to 1500 AD, witnessed the rebuilding of the Old Jamia (Old Mosque), another notable structure on site, and the construction of the New Jamia (New Mosque). Period V at Ungwana incorporated the first half of the 16th century, and was marked by reconstruction post the Portuguese raid of 1505 AD. Both the New Jamia and the Mosque of the domed mihrab at Ungwana Bay were probably rebuilt following collapse during this period. The final period, known as Period VI, was marked by the construction of another mosque and lasted until 1600 AD. Ungwana ceased to exist as a community in the last quarter of the 17th century (alongside Gede) on account of the advancement of the Galla (or Orma). There are dozens of well-studied and accessible historic sites along the Kenya's Coast. Some of the historic sites located here are composed of the old settlement towns and outlying groups of tombs. North to South, the coast is awash with a collection of ruins, found mainly along the beach, many of them on private lands. Index of Historic Sites Along the Coast of Kenya Kwale County - Vumba Kuu , Vanga , Kagugu, Wasini Island Ruins , The Chambocha Cemetery , Pongwe , Hurumuzi (House of Hormuz) , Shirazi , Munje Ruins , Gazi Ruins , Galu Ruins , Ukunda Diani Mosque , Kongo Mosque , Twiga Mosque , Mombasa County - Fort Jesus, Santo Antonio de Tanna, St. Joseph’s Fort, The Mbaraki Pillar, Kilifi County - Mtwapa Ruins , Jumba la Mtwana (The Slavemaster's House) , Vipingo Masjid , Kinuni Ruins , Kitoka Ruins , Mnarani Ruins , Uyombo Ruins , Kirepwe Island Ruins , Kiburugeni , Mgangani , Gede Ruins , Portuguese Chapel, Vasco da Gama Cross, Kibirikani Ruins , Mambrui , Tana River County - Ungwana Bay Ruins , Shaka Ruins , Mwana Ruins , Lamu County - Kibirikani Ruins, Matondoni Ruins , Kipungani Ruins , Takwa Ruins , Nabahani Ruins , Siyu Fort , Shanga Ruins , Atu Ruins , Chundwa Ruins , Ashuwei Ruins , Ishakani I Tana River County is a rewarding destination for travelers interested in exploring off-the-beaten-path locations in Kenya. River Tana is the longest river in Kenya, flowing through the county and offering opportunities for riverine activities such as boat cruises, fishing, and birdwatching. Tana River County is home to the Orma and Pokomo ethnic groups, each with rich cultural traditions, music, and dances. You Are Here: Ungwana Bay Ruins Where to Next? Explore Destinations Nearby Ungwana Bay Ruins A Guide to Tana River County A Summa Digest of Tana River About Tana River Way Back When 28 Destinations in Tana River County , arranged as one would visit these - north to south - with the aid of narratives, images, strip maps and distance chart: Ngao Neukirchen Church , Lake Shakababo , Delta Dunes Lodge , Ozi Conservation Area , Tana River Lodge , Old Town Kipini , Ungwana Bay Ruins , Shaka Ruins , Mwana Ruins , Fumo Liyongo Shrine , Kipini Conservancy , Red Cliff Camp , River Tana Delta , Tana Delta Colonial Forts , Tana Delta Cultural Centre , Tana Primate National Reserve , Mchelelo Bandas , Ndera Conservancy , Mau Mau Hola Monument , Hola Methodist Church , Bura St. Jude , Bura Irrigation Scheme , Bura East Conservancy , Arawale National Reserve , George Adamson's Grave , Kora National Park , Adamson's Fall , Tana River Bridge Know More About Tana River County: Its Geography, Land-Use, Highlights, Population, Roads - including a distance chart, Airports, Climate & National Monuments What's The Air Like In T. River? Tana River has a hot and dry climate with average annual temperatures of 30 o C; the highest,41 o C, is in January-March and the lowest being 20 o  C in June-July. Rainfall is low, bi-modal, and erratic. What's The Lay Of The Land In C.04? The land generally sloping eastward, Tana River is all undulating plain that is only interrupted in a few places by low hills – at Bilibil and Bura. Know More About Tana River County…

Source Images

  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ungwana-bay-1.jpg
  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/kipini.jpg
  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/spatial-location-of-kipini-in-lamu-county.jpg
  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ungwana-bay1.jpg
  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/ungwana-bay2.jpg
  • https://abirikenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/guide-to-historic-sites-at-the-coast-of-kenya.jpg?w=1024
  • https://abirikenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/links-2-9.png
  • https://abirikenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tana-river-county-media-updated.jpg?w=1024
  • https://abirikenya.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/links-2-8.png
  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/pexels-photo-271643-1.jpeg
  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/tana-river-county-distance-chart.png?w=800
  • https://thisiskenyahome.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/pexels-photo-1319648.jpeg