May 30, 2106
Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania
Probable remnants of 2,000-year-old city discovered off Tanzania’s coast
Source: CCTV Africa
A scuba diver has discovered what could be the ruins of an ancient city, just off the coast of Tanzania. An unusually low tide revealed a suspected wall, running for 4 kilometers underwater.Researchers say it could be the remains of Rhapta - a city dating back two thousand years. CCTV's Dan Ashby has the story
On the Tanzanian coast, 330 km south of capital Dar es Salaam, there's a stillness out on the water that belies the frenetic trade that flowed through this spot hundreds of years ago.
The harbor at the island of Kilwa was for hundreds of years one of the wealthiest areas of Africa. Since ancient times, this trading post connected the continent to the rest of the world.
Today, the site's historic importance has captured the imagination of established archaeologists like Felix Chami, professor of archaeology at the University of Dar es Salaam, who could be on the cusp of one of Africa's greatest discoveries.
"I feel that these architectural remains are from the greatest of the African civilizations," says Chami, standing near the ancient ruins of Kilwa.
"When you cross the beaches and the channel to Kilwa Kisiwani you see millions of pieces of pottery. Then when you get to the island itself, you actually see the wonders of civilization."
''I feel that these architectural remains are from the greatest of the African civilizations'' - - Felix Chami, professor of archeology at the University of Dar es Salaam.
Back in October 19, 2015
Unearthing the origins of East Africa's lost civilization
By Pete Kowalczyk, for CNN
Read More
The civilization that Chami refers to is an ancient east African trading society tucked along the Tanzanian coastline known to Arab sailors up until the 10th century as Azania, meaning "land of the blacks." The power and wealth of Azania was based at Rhaphta -- an as yet undiscovered traded city that amassed great wealth exporting tortoiseshell and coconut oil and importing metal weapons and iron tools.
Chami is now on a mission to find the mystical city of Rhapta -- one of the wealthiest cities in the history of sub-Saharan Africa.
But whereas Rhapta's mysteries remains hidden under Tanzanian soil, the site at Kilwa gives us a window into this east African lost civilization.
READ & Watch more: Unearthing East Africa's lost civilization - CNN.com
Dar-es Salaam, Tanzania
Probable remnants of 2,000-year-old city discovered off Tanzania’s coast
Source: CCTV Africa
A scuba diver has discovered what could be the ruins of an ancient city, just off the coast of Tanzania. An unusually low tide revealed a suspected wall, running for 4 kilometers underwater.Researchers say it could be the remains of Rhapta - a city dating back two thousand years. CCTV's Dan Ashby has the story
On the Tanzanian coast, 330 km south of capital Dar es Salaam, there's a stillness out on the water that belies the frenetic trade that flowed through this spot hundreds of years ago.
The harbor at the island of Kilwa was for hundreds of years one of the wealthiest areas of Africa. Since ancient times, this trading post connected the continent to the rest of the world.
Today, the site's historic importance has captured the imagination of established archaeologists like Felix Chami, professor of archaeology at the University of Dar es Salaam, who could be on the cusp of one of Africa's greatest discoveries.
"I feel that these architectural remains are from the greatest of the African civilizations," says Chami, standing near the ancient ruins of Kilwa.
"When you cross the beaches and the channel to Kilwa Kisiwani you see millions of pieces of pottery. Then when you get to the island itself, you actually see the wonders of civilization."
''I feel that these architectural remains are from the greatest of the African civilizations'' - - Felix Chami, professor of archeology at the University of Dar es Salaam.
Back in October 19, 2015
Unearthing the origins of East Africa's lost civilization
By Pete Kowalczyk, for CNN
Read More
The civilization that Chami refers to is an ancient east African trading society tucked along the Tanzanian coastline known to Arab sailors up until the 10th century as Azania, meaning "land of the blacks." The power and wealth of Azania was based at Rhaphta -- an as yet undiscovered traded city that amassed great wealth exporting tortoiseshell and coconut oil and importing metal weapons and iron tools.
Chami is now on a mission to find the mystical city of Rhapta -- one of the wealthiest cities in the history of sub-Saharan Africa.
But whereas Rhapta's mysteries remains hidden under Tanzanian soil, the site at Kilwa gives us a window into this east African lost civilization.
READ & Watch more: Unearthing East Africa's lost civilization - CNN.com
