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Kilwa Kisiwani is a lost and buried city in Tanzania, Africa. UNESCO World Heritage List: Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara dates it to c. 11th to 15th century CE. UNESCO World Heritage List: Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara also records: “Swahili trading city.”
A trading city with a coral-stone Great Mosque and palace.



Guide answers and timeline insights related to this Wonder.
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Compare the published evidence and its interpretations. “Consensus” records the mainstream account; “Alternative” identifies a competing interpretation, not an equally established conclusion. Estimates and unresolved questions remain qualified in the claim text.
| Field | Consensus | Alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Date | 1000 CE - 1500 CE c. 11th to 15th century CE UNESCO World Heritage List: Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara | No claims found. |
| Purpose | Swahili trading city UNESCO World Heritage List: Ruins of Kilwa Kisiwani and Ruins of Songo Mnara | No claims found. |
| Method | No claims found. | No claims found. |
Calculating elapsed time...
Approximate - counted from January 1, 1,250 CE (UTC). Based on the midpoint of 1,000 CE - 1,500 CE; the underlying date is uncertain.
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Each row is an independent total of the same span, not a breakdown to add together.