![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N22AZTGCCNG2HD2SPAPCXJTUAI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c7763b847ce13544d40630ec0d0486ce642ddb9e8ee97a965fd6d0463a3c65db&width=400&height=225)
Some of the pottery from the excavations. It reveals information about trade contacts between Zanzibar and the Arabian Gulf. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O5XKRKQRWBDZDEQOT37U6QCJ74.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4c1b033670133074a6833a52ef9a8c4d2a8f4039fe3c57222eec163db39de3ba&width=400&height=225)
Archaeologists at work inside the Old Fort of Stone Town in Zanzibar. Two trenches were dug to a depth of two metres. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2TR2YYVTNJDPJFQSZHLKTDYOMM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d2527621b72f7d0644e0311f41616384f59175f22ba701412c674a736343db42&width=400&height=225)
One of the towers of the Old Fort that was built by the Omani Arabs in the 18th century. The dig uncovered layers of history well before this era. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J67J6LHPM5DUVOZETZIYFXECS4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=273c6f3f3476d25b37f7aa02bc4ec5128e7ed6254e28b820fc04045b6f11a42f&width=400&height=225)
Unearthing a 12th century pillar base from a possible mosque. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3P36FFX5QVAA3CW3LN4M4AH43I.jpg?smart=true&auth=3361f3ed845f7911ffb515a7c11f247c9fbc3d01299d2c7de88617917ccca658&width=400&height=225)
Prof Tim Power, an archaeologist from United Arab Emirates University, working to uncover the past. Photo: Nour Al Marzooqi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPWH27AAFNAGJEOSHUUAAHKRAU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=71b0b57b940731e9e8906121ab49d82f4d82de447adf655ab141c58a3ba53a75&width=400&height=225)
Pottery found at the site dating to the 11th or 12th century and believed to be from modern-day Iran. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NHQ5TF3LXVE2TF5KLSFNGSCLRU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=e2bd8b95aaa62829b775d53a94f89674b700518584c84707e333b9c9a8149de7&width=400&height=225)
They also found mid to late 17th century Chinese porcelain with a landscape scene. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T2CX3HHJCFDWLGEFAMXJ6FBCYY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=5b2c4b58a453e2dfcc84f1781e40f11b4fabbf1aef2176a3fd90790698a4c1eb&width=400&height=225)
Mark Horton, from the Royal Agricultural University in the UK, recording the Portuguese church. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N54VDY3FHFDSRJMJB5KBUIM6FE.jpeg?smart=true&auth=0828a942849988043e386a62dc76396c7ba56bce3a1aef4169e920877148e9a4&width=400&height=225)
A project archaeologist working on a Portuguese-period child burial. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2NUN3LTY7BEP7O4FAYPIS3GD5M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a3e1f7af181d3e78b51ba01547e3253b32f1a435cf7b8e151561e068332a0333&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visiting the archaeological excavations during the summer of 2022. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N22AZTGCCNG2HD2SPAPCXJTUAI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c7763b847ce13544d40630ec0d0486ce642ddb9e8ee97a965fd6d0463a3c65db&width=400&height=225)
Some of the pottery from the excavations. It reveals information about trade contacts between Zanzibar and the Arabian Gulf. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O5XKRKQRWBDZDEQOT37U6QCJ74.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4c1b033670133074a6833a52ef9a8c4d2a8f4039fe3c57222eec163db39de3ba&width=400&height=225)
Archaeologists at work inside the Old Fort of Stone Town in Zanzibar. Two trenches were dug to a depth of two metres. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2TR2YYVTNJDPJFQSZHLKTDYOMM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d2527621b72f7d0644e0311f41616384f59175f22ba701412c674a736343db42&width=400&height=225)
One of the towers of the Old Fort that was built by the Omani Arabs in the 18th century. The dig uncovered layers of history well before this era. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/J67J6LHPM5DUVOZETZIYFXECS4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=273c6f3f3476d25b37f7aa02bc4ec5128e7ed6254e28b820fc04045b6f11a42f&width=400&height=225)
Unearthing a 12th century pillar base from a possible mosque. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3P36FFX5QVAA3CW3LN4M4AH43I.jpg?smart=true&auth=3361f3ed845f7911ffb515a7c11f247c9fbc3d01299d2c7de88617917ccca658&width=400&height=225)
Prof Tim Power, an archaeologist from United Arab Emirates University, working to uncover the past. Photo: Nour Al Marzooqi
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/VPWH27AAFNAGJEOSHUUAAHKRAU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=71b0b57b940731e9e8906121ab49d82f4d82de447adf655ab141c58a3ba53a75&width=400&height=225)
Pottery found at the site dating to the 11th or 12th century and believed to be from modern-day Iran. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NHQ5TF3LXVE2TF5KLSFNGSCLRU.jpeg?smart=true&auth=e2bd8b95aaa62829b775d53a94f89674b700518584c84707e333b9c9a8149de7&width=400&height=225)
They also found mid to late 17th century Chinese porcelain with a landscape scene. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/T2CX3HHJCFDWLGEFAMXJ6FBCYY.jpeg?smart=true&auth=5b2c4b58a453e2dfcc84f1781e40f11b4fabbf1aef2176a3fd90790698a4c1eb&width=400&height=225)
Mark Horton, from the Royal Agricultural University in the UK, recording the Portuguese church. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N54VDY3FHFDSRJMJB5KBUIM6FE.jpeg?smart=true&auth=0828a942849988043e386a62dc76396c7ba56bce3a1aef4169e920877148e9a4&width=400&height=225)
A project archaeologist working on a Portuguese-period child burial. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/2NUN3LTY7BEP7O4FAYPIS3GD5M.jpeg?smart=true&auth=a3e1f7af181d3e78b51ba01547e3253b32f1a435cf7b8e151561e068332a0333&width=400&height=225)
Tourists visiting the archaeological excavations during the summer of 2022. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/N22AZTGCCNG2HD2SPAPCXJTUAI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=c7763b847ce13544d40630ec0d0486ce642ddb9e8ee97a965fd6d0463a3c65db&width=400&height=225)
Some of the pottery from the excavations. It reveals information about trade contacts between Zanzibar and the Arabian Gulf. Photo: Tim Power
UAE-led project makes groundbreaking discovery in Zanzibar's famed Stone Town
Archaeological work proves the town was actually established much earlier by local Swahili people
![John Dennehy](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F6672bef4-f371-4546-90ba-13ad5ded9082.png?smart=true&auth=f1d711e1371a4276112f01656e091484625201f90342530a0b42086db97abdf2&width=70&height=70)
John Dennehy
01 September, 2022
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