Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi
Ghana Empire (300–1240 CE peak 800–1070 CE Wattasi/Awdaghust description)·Soninke Ghana (Awdaghust) → Wagadu·🇲🇷 Hodh Ech Chargui, near Koumbi village, Mali border, Ghana capital zone, Mauritania
About
About Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi
Koumbi Saleh excavated by Bonnel de Mézières 1914 and Berthier 1970s, Ghana capital 800–1240. Recorded context — Period: Ghana Empire (300–1240 CE peak 800–1070 CE Wattasi/Awdaghust description); Culture: Soninke Ghana (Awdaghust) → Wagadu; Field status: excavated; Materials: local stone, column, plaster; Condition: ruins — sand.
Why it mattersKey Soninke Ghana (Awdaghust) → Wagadu ancient-city with stratified sequence and regional typology.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network extent
- 02Collapse cause
Theories
- 01Observatory
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 500 CE early stone; palace 800 CE; mosque 1100 CE
- Period
- Ghana Empire (300–1240 CE peak 800–1070 CE Wattasi/Awdaghust description)
- Culture
- Soninke Ghana (Awdaghust) → Wagadu
- Purpose
- Ghana Empire capital (120 ha) with stone palace, 15 mosques and merchant town — al-Bakri's 1067 described metropolis 'Ghana gold city' with two towns
- Rediscovered
- Modern excavation 1933
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 500 CE early stone; palace 800 CE; mosque 1100 CE
Initial construction / first occupation at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi
1950 excavation
Modern rediscovery and scientific excavation of Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi
c. 200 CE major extension
Major expansion / refurbishment at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi
On the ground
Structures & features
15.7640° N · 7.9640° W · 240 m · 4 mapped features
- Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Principal Structurestructurestructure at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — subsidiary complex15.7658° N · 7.9655° W
- Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Complex Annex 2complexcomplex at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — outlier feature15.7624° N · 7.9647° W
- Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Rock_Art Annex 3rock artrock art at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — outlier feature15.7621° N · 7.9652° W
- Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — Structure Annex 4structurestructure at Koumbi Saleh — Ghana Empire Capital Kumbi — subsidiary complex15.7646° N · 7.9645° W
Gallery