The Kenya Coast remains one the top travel destinations in Kenya, offering many diverse tourist attractions. Among such popular destination in the Coast are the Gedi ruins, which lie about 100 km north of Mombasa and 15 km south of Malindi. These ruins of the 15th century town of Gedi hold with them Kenya's great unknown treasures; a wonderful ancient town lying lost in the depths of the Arabuko Sokoke forest.
Apart from the common belief that the town was abandoned in the early 17th century, little else is known about this ancient coastal town that still puzzles both archaeologists and historians. The reason why the town was abandoned is not documented but one school of thought believes that unknown invaders destroyed the town in the 17th century. Many researchers dispute this theory because there is no evidence of any disturbance or battle in this ancient Swahili settlement whose population was estimated at 2500 people.
Some people argue that the Gedi's residents abandoned the town due to reduced water availability in the wells, caused by receding ocean waters. Others also allege that the Portuguese brought the deadly and incurable Black Plague, which killed the entire population of Gedi.
A relatively recent theory purports that the Gedi townspeople fled when faced with the threat of an invasion by the Galla, an inland tribe reputed to have been very hostile. However, there is no mention of any such large scale evacuation around that time in the local recorded history.
Gedi was declared a historic monument in 1927 and much excavation and preservation work was carried out revealing large areas of this ancient town, including the pillar tombs, the palace and a great mosque. But despite the extensive research and exploration, nobody is really sure of what happened to the town of Gedi and its inhabitants.
Between 1948 and 1958, excavations at Gedi ruins uncovered an Indian lamp, porcelain from China, spanish scissors, and Venetian beads among other items that point to engagement in some form of international trade by citizens of Gedi.
The Gedi Ruins were declared a national park in 1948 and the area has since become one of the top tourist attractions along the Kenyan coastal region. Gedi remains a mysterious place to visit, especially with pillars and stone walls, ruined mosques and tombs lying among stands of trees.
Gedi remains an oasis of tranquility to date, though surrounded by modern day villages. The ruins are overgrown with plants and flowers. Getting to Gedi is easy from Mombasa, Malindi, or Watamu. A small museum in the area displays ancient artifacts retrieved through excavation works. These include Arab wares, Chinese porcelain, and Phoenician artifacts. More Gede ruins artifacts are also displayed at the Fort Jesus museum in Mombasa. - 15432
Apart from the common belief that the town was abandoned in the early 17th century, little else is known about this ancient coastal town that still puzzles both archaeologists and historians. The reason why the town was abandoned is not documented but one school of thought believes that unknown invaders destroyed the town in the 17th century. Many researchers dispute this theory because there is no evidence of any disturbance or battle in this ancient Swahili settlement whose population was estimated at 2500 people.
Some people argue that the Gedi's residents abandoned the town due to reduced water availability in the wells, caused by receding ocean waters. Others also allege that the Portuguese brought the deadly and incurable Black Plague, which killed the entire population of Gedi.
A relatively recent theory purports that the Gedi townspeople fled when faced with the threat of an invasion by the Galla, an inland tribe reputed to have been very hostile. However, there is no mention of any such large scale evacuation around that time in the local recorded history.
Gedi was declared a historic monument in 1927 and much excavation and preservation work was carried out revealing large areas of this ancient town, including the pillar tombs, the palace and a great mosque. But despite the extensive research and exploration, nobody is really sure of what happened to the town of Gedi and its inhabitants.
Between 1948 and 1958, excavations at Gedi ruins uncovered an Indian lamp, porcelain from China, spanish scissors, and Venetian beads among other items that point to engagement in some form of international trade by citizens of Gedi.
The Gedi Ruins were declared a national park in 1948 and the area has since become one of the top tourist attractions along the Kenyan coastal region. Gedi remains a mysterious place to visit, especially with pillars and stone walls, ruined mosques and tombs lying among stands of trees.
Gedi remains an oasis of tranquility to date, though surrounded by modern day villages. The ruins are overgrown with plants and flowers. Getting to Gedi is easy from Mombasa, Malindi, or Watamu. A small museum in the area displays ancient artifacts retrieved through excavation works. These include Arab wares, Chinese porcelain, and Phoenician artifacts. More Gede ruins artifacts are also displayed at the Fort Jesus museum in Mombasa. - 15432
About the Author:
Andrew Muigai is the Managing Director of Africapoint.com, a Kenya travel agency that organises Kenya travel packages and reservations for Kenya hotels.
