Old Towns of Djenné
13°54′23.004″N 4°33′18″W / 13.90639000°N 4.55500°W / 13.90639000; -4.55500Type Settlement Official name Old Towns of Djenné Type Cultural Criteria (iii)(iv) Designated 1988 Reference no. 116rev Region African States
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Old Towns of Djenné (Arabic: مدن جنة القديمة, romanized: mudun Janna al-qadīma, French: villes anciennes de Djenné) is an archaeological and urban ensemble located in the city of Djenné, in Mali. It comprises four archaeological sites, namely Djenné-Djeno, Hambarkétolo, Kaniana and Tonomba. In 1988, it was inscribed by the UNESCO on the World Heritage list.[1]
History
Inhabited since 250 B.C., Djenné became a market centre and an important link in the trans-Saharan gold trade. In the 15th and 16th centuries, it was one of the centres for the propagation of Islam. Its traditional houses, of which nearly 2,000 have survived, are built on hillocks (toguere) as protection from the seasonal floods.[1]
Sources
This article incorporates text from a free content work. Licensed under CC BY-SA IGO 3.0 (license statement/permission). Text taken from Old Towns of Djenné, UNESCO World Heritage Centre.
References
- ^ a b "Old Towns of Djenné". UNESCO World Heritage Centre. Retrieved 2021-12-22.
