The origins and development of Zuwīla, Libyan Sahara

An archaeological and historical overview of an ancient oasis town and caravan centre

Datos Bibliográficos

ID21029751
AutoresDavid J Mattingly, David Mattingly (0000-0003-1862-8392, University of Leicester, autor de correspondencia), Martin Sterry (0000-0002-4863-7735, University of Leicester), Martin J Sterry, David N Edwards (0000-0002-9480-4936, University of Leicester)
Año2015
Volumen50
Número1
Páginas27-75
Fecha de publicación2015-01-02
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAzania Archaeological Research in Africa (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0067-270X • E-ISSN: 1945-5534
EditorialInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/0067270x.2014.980126
OpenAlexW1972827948
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas21
Referencias citadas52

Zuwīla in southwestern Libya (Fazzān) was one of the most important early Islamic centres in the Central Sahara, but the archaeological correlates of the written sources for it have been little explored. This paper brings together for the first time a detailed consideration of the relevant historical and archaeological data, together with new AMS radiocarbon dates from several key monuments. The origins of the settlement at Zuwīla were pre-Islamic, but the town gained greater prominence in the early centuries of Arab rule of the Maghrib, culminating with the establishment of an Ibāḍī state ruled by the dynasty of the Banū Khaṭṭāb, with Zuwīla its capital. The historical sources and the accounts of early European travellers are discussed and archaeological work at Zuwīla is described (including the new radiocarbon dates). A short gazetteer of archaeological monuments is provided as an appendix. Comparisons and contrasts are also drawn between Zuwīla and other oases of the ash-Sharqiyāt region of Fazzān. The final section of the paper presents a series of models based on the available evidence, tracing the evolution and decline of this remarkable site

Ancient history · Archaeological evidence · Archaeology · Chronology · Geography · Islam · Radiocarbon dating · Section (typography) · Settlement (finance) · African Studies and Geopolitics · Archaeological and Historical Studies · History · Language, Linguistics, Cultural Analysis