Manyikeni
Encyclopedia
Manyikeni is a Mozambique
an archaeological site
, situated around 52 km west of the coastal city of Vilanculos. The archaeological site dates from the twelfth to seventeenth century. It is believed to be part of the Great Zimbabwe
tradition of architecture. Not only is the central stone enclosure complex built in this tradition but the find of a Zimbabwe-style iron gong at the site also suggests cultural ties. The site today is covered by the grass Cenchrus Ciliaris. This grass is commonly found in Zimbabwe but not in Mozambique. Berger suggests that this may indicate the grass was introduced along with cattle from Zimbabwe. The site is located 350 km from Great Zimbabwe
, the capital of a large, pre-colonial empire. Barker (1978) has suggested that only the ruling elite at Manyikeni consumed beef as cattle bones have only been found in the central part of the site. The lower classes who lived at the periphery of the site ate meat from ovi-caprines. The presence of a large number of glass beads and seashells at the site have led to speculation the settlement traded extensively with the ancient coastal settlement of Chibuene
. Manyikeni is mentioned in a history book about Africa; only appearing a single time.
World Heritage Tentative List on September 15th, 1997 in the Cultural category.
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
an archaeological site
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
, situated around 52 km west of the coastal city of Vilanculos. The archaeological site dates from the twelfth to seventeenth century. It is believed to be part of the Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which existed from 1100 to 1450 C.E. during the country’s Late Iron Age. The monument, which first began to be constructed in the 11th century and which continued to be built until the 14th century, spanned an...
tradition of architecture. Not only is the central stone enclosure complex built in this tradition but the find of a Zimbabwe-style iron gong at the site also suggests cultural ties. The site today is covered by the grass Cenchrus Ciliaris. This grass is commonly found in Zimbabwe but not in Mozambique. Berger suggests that this may indicate the grass was introduced along with cattle from Zimbabwe. The site is located 350 km from Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe
Great Zimbabwe is a ruined city that was once the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe, which existed from 1100 to 1450 C.E. during the country’s Late Iron Age. The monument, which first began to be constructed in the 11th century and which continued to be built until the 14th century, spanned an...
, the capital of a large, pre-colonial empire. Barker (1978) has suggested that only the ruling elite at Manyikeni consumed beef as cattle bones have only been found in the central part of the site. The lower classes who lived at the periphery of the site ate meat from ovi-caprines. The presence of a large number of glass beads and seashells at the site have led to speculation the settlement traded extensively with the ancient coastal settlement of Chibuene
Chibuene
Chibuene is a Mozambiquean archaeological site, located five kilometres south of the coastal city of Vilanculos. The site was occupied during two distinct phases. The earlier phase of occupation dates to the late first millennium AD. The second phase dates from around 1450 and is contemporaneous...
. Manyikeni is mentioned in a history book about Africa; only appearing a single time.
World Heritage Status
This site was added to the UNESCOUNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
World Heritage Tentative List on September 15th, 1997 in the Cultural category.