Gedi

An early Swahili coastal town on the East African coast of Kenya. Gedi was probably founded around 1300 AD and enjoyed prosperity into at least the 16th century due to the Indian Ocean trade and increased exploitation of Zimbabwean gold. The ruins of the houses and great mosque are well preserved.

Archaeologically, this is the most intensively excavated of the early towns of the East African coast; it does not, however, receive mention in any of the relevant written records. Located on a now abandoned site beside a tidal inlet south of Malindi, Kenya, Gedi was probably founded around 1300. Stone buildings continued to be erected into at least the 16th century. These three centuries probably saw the greatest prosperity of the Indian Ocean trade which nurtured the coastal town and was drawn southwards by the greatly increased exploitation of Zimbabwean gold. At Gedi the ruins of the houses and Great Mosque are well preserved. Although the remains of any associated mud buildings have not been investigated, Gedi provides a useful basis for comparison with the richer contemporary cities such as Kilwa and with later Swahili urban settlements.