![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C76JEGKR3RDTVOEQDCDFFXZQZM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=90091581c187c78c5613e6f39c1b7351692690769dd5a31ce16711c842bf023f&width=400&height=225)
Remains of the Portuguese church/cemetery in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Photo: Mark Horton
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A UAE-led team dug archaeological trenches inside the Old Fort of Zanzibar's Stone Town. Photo: Tim Power
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They sought to understand more about the Portuguese legacy at Zanzibar. In this photo, they are excavating the floor of the colonial-era church. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGHMOYUPSJAEHMUX25PXGIJV3Y.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f6d0130938e81a67b7238e49a6d73003abeb35a187e97218ba55e8b62d20b099&width=400&height=225)
Seventeenth-century Chinese porcelain found at the Portuguese trading base in Zanzibar. Ships brought back ceramics from China to Portugal, using Stone Town as a safe haven to stop and rest. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KU55EY3LG5B3AU6VD4SVNDJIZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=da0cb123994bd770f96ee566e54987b74efb2322fb31228d0077e3a6e21db9bc&width=400&height=225)
Excavations were conducted in Stone Town's Old Fort. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRSSREOV5JE5ZESJ3J5CDAKHG4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cd93813d250cebff4dcfc7b609914252ccf55b53ba71c48e6c22b532c0c1aa78&width=400&height=225)
Human remains from the 17th century Portuguese cemetery. Photo: Tim Power
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A crucifix and Christian 'sacred heart' pendant found in Portuguese graves at Stone Town. Photo: Tim Power
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Human remains from the 17th century Portuguese burials. Photo: Tim Power
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A wall of the 17th century Portuguese Church of Our Lady of Grace was found integrated into the Old Fort of Zanzibar's Stone Town. Photo: Mark Horton
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The 17th century Church of Santo Antonio on the Island of Mozambique gives an idea of what the Zanzibar church might have looked like. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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Zanzibar's Stone Town has a cosmopolitan past. EPA
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The Portuguese trading station may have resembled a small fort such as Bidya in Fujairah, shown here in a 17th century Portuguese atlas. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
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Three phases of walls from the Portuguese trading station spanning the 16th and 17th centuries at Stone Town. Photo: Tim Power
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Seventeenth-century Chinese porcelain found at the Portuguese trading station in Zanzibar. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G75WXJ4QYNBILMJ4OMW362CKSE.jpeg?smart=true&auth=2cd6e4cb23c3bd44f37324c89eedb136c9270c9ae5d90fa0336c310f0817b078&width=400&height=225)
Excavations of the 17th century Portuguese burials under the floor of the church. Photo: Tim Power
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Teams uncover skeletons in Stone Town dating to the Portuguese era. Photo: Tim Power
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Human remains from the 17th century Portuguese burials. Photo: Tim Power
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A bracelet found in a Portuguese-era cemetery in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Photo: Mark Horton
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C76JEGKR3RDTVOEQDCDFFXZQZM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=90091581c187c78c5613e6f39c1b7351692690769dd5a31ce16711c842bf023f&width=400&height=225)
Remains of the Portuguese church/cemetery in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Photo: Mark Horton
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BV7R4ZTQF5GQFIHTCRMIBL72HM.jpg?smart=true&auth=fe627d11134aef31052380ea0f9ffd7f65cd91dc4f1389f17e58425bf8de4aeb&width=400&height=225)
A UAE-led team dug archaeological trenches inside the Old Fort of Zanzibar's Stone Town. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/H67VCCWRVFGDHJSK3QH2SW6YL4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=2f71fcf49a7881c0c188a2c10e055d409db2f6f42eeb6a6368c032351acff179&width=400&height=225)
They sought to understand more about the Portuguese legacy at Zanzibar. In this photo, they are excavating the floor of the colonial-era church. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/CGHMOYUPSJAEHMUX25PXGIJV3Y.jpeg?smart=true&auth=f6d0130938e81a67b7238e49a6d73003abeb35a187e97218ba55e8b62d20b099&width=400&height=225)
Seventeenth-century Chinese porcelain found at the Portuguese trading base in Zanzibar. Ships brought back ceramics from China to Portugal, using Stone Town as a safe haven to stop and rest. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KU55EY3LG5B3AU6VD4SVNDJIZQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=da0cb123994bd770f96ee566e54987b74efb2322fb31228d0077e3a6e21db9bc&width=400&height=225)
Excavations were conducted in Stone Town's Old Fort. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/BRSSREOV5JE5ZESJ3J5CDAKHG4.jpeg?smart=true&auth=cd93813d250cebff4dcfc7b609914252ccf55b53ba71c48e6c22b532c0c1aa78&width=400&height=225)
Human remains from the 17th century Portuguese cemetery. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C2R7JAPACRHH3KKICKD3KHMBUM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=398505909f275683839588236fcc353cbfa6e3d5e97e61123deb7936f8da3569&width=400&height=225)
A crucifix and Christian 'sacred heart' pendant found in Portuguese graves at Stone Town. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/ELEXHFB5N5BNBMC2UJUY5HJPUM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=5f66b9a9379e47ddeadcc4084998ff5a8474c4b2a37e90756dfe182b93a90306&width=400&height=225)
Human remains from the 17th century Portuguese burials. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3NZBUZEAGVHUJPDPRS72VAXFYU.jpg?smart=true&auth=dbd2db528833416f771c5d7bc733249ef1ff1b2f012d257a61904dd475100d38&width=400&height=225)
A wall of the 17th century Portuguese Church of Our Lady of Grace was found integrated into the Old Fort of Zanzibar's Stone Town. Photo: Mark Horton
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/WRHT7RICSRB4TETX33PB3KIKQ4.jpg?smart=true&auth=2cdc173f9f39ac92227d940b4a19a2627453ec79732c3f52e69c17dd807ebb36&width=400&height=225)
The 17th century Church of Santo Antonio on the Island of Mozambique gives an idea of what the Zanzibar church might have looked like. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YHVCAVZD5BL3PBYUGGATL52CLQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=6f7073308ed5889c663b3a6e0ce3c22038099ff67ac444b011cfc79624956702&width=400&height=225)
Zanzibar's Stone Town has a cosmopolitan past. EPA
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HXIZJBNHJVHPJOAIA3N2X2PUKA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=0bc5980fbd4add6838cce9bb4461cc9672a1432f79c11675b8cbeef48ed1119e&width=400&height=225)
The Portuguese trading station may have resembled a small fort such as Bidya in Fujairah, shown here in a 17th century Portuguese atlas. Photo: Wikimedia Commons
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/GPI4OK2VURBO3BFUJSRPIQ2M2Q.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d822d5929454420de7aeab380a11e427a9618cecfcc64f6e7e81af11779c2aa3&width=400&height=225)
Three phases of walls from the Portuguese trading station spanning the 16th and 17th centuries at Stone Town. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YTGGNVJASBDPPONCHJPZ3AFUXA.jpeg?smart=true&auth=d1ddaae1c4f0a7ec823a8ba252496f32a140133e72b29e084984fef9b2966477&width=400&height=225)
Seventeenth-century Chinese porcelain found at the Portuguese trading station in Zanzibar. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/G75WXJ4QYNBILMJ4OMW362CKSE.jpeg?smart=true&auth=2cd6e4cb23c3bd44f37324c89eedb136c9270c9ae5d90fa0336c310f0817b078&width=400&height=225)
Excavations of the 17th century Portuguese burials under the floor of the church. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PMO5T2HK4VFYRONI4PLGVYXIFI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=4fb3a0138cbc0280309efc12b331c0ee7b74f40455e43722d79f5ae35da45ce8&width=400&height=225)
Teams uncover skeletons in Stone Town dating to the Portuguese era. Photo: Tim Power
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/KMZPPKZXTBEG3PN7OFYVGLJ7PI.jpeg?smart=true&auth=fc333e4743a7f813bac87454a4279f1bb4d5363f15cb11a3cb209718f6b335d6&width=400&height=225)
Human remains from the 17th century Portuguese burials. Photo: Tim Power
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A bracelet found in a Portuguese-era cemetery in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Photo: Mark Horton
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/C76JEGKR3RDTVOEQDCDFFXZQZM.jpeg?smart=true&auth=90091581c187c78c5613e6f39c1b7351692690769dd5a31ce16711c842bf023f&width=400&height=225)
Remains of the Portuguese church/cemetery in Zanzibar’s Stone Town. Photo: Mark Horton
UAE-led team makes groundbreaking discoveries in Zanzibar's Stone Town
Archaeologists shed light on Portuguese legacy of cultural site and its Gulf links
![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
20 October, 2022
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