10 Ancient Cities Discovered in Africa

Blombos Cave and Aksum are just two of the ten historical cities on our list of ancient cities that have been discovered in Africa. They showcase the remarkable achievements of our ancestors. Blombos Cave, located in South Africa, is a site of early human activity where one can see evidence of cave paintings created by our ancestors. On the other hand, Aksum, an ancient city in Ethiopia, is known for its impressive stone structures. These structures, such as stelae and obelisks, are architectural marvels that demonstrate the advanced engineering and building techniques of the Aksumite civilization.

1. Great Zimbabwe

Great Zimbabwe is an ancient city that is known for its impressive granite walls and towers, which were built by medieval architects who had a serious case of OCD for symmetry and perfection. These walls and towers were constructed without the use of mortar, and they still stand today, leaving modern architects scratching their heads and asking "how did they do that?" The ruins of Great Zimbabwe cover an area of nearly 800 hectares, and they include a palace, a great enclosure, and several other structures that were built for both residential and ceremonial purposes. The city was a major trading center, and it played a significant role in the trade of gold, ivory, and other goods between the East and the West coast of Africa. It is said that the city was also a political and cultural center. The city was abandoned in the late 15th century. The ruins of Great Zimbabwe are now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major tourist attraction.

2. Mapungubwe, South Africa

Mapungubwe is an ancient city located in present-day South Africa that was the capital of a medieval kingdom that was known for its gold trade and other metalworking techniques. The city was a major center of trade, and it played a significant role in the trade of gold, ivory, and other goods between the East and the West coast of Africa. The ruins of Mapungubwe cover an area of nearly 10 square kilometers, and they include a palace, a great enclosure, and several other structures that were built for both residential and ceremonial purposes. The city was also a political and cultural center, and it was home to a powerful kingdom that controlled the region for several centuries. The city was abandoned in the early 14th century, probably because they ran out of gold, or they just got tired of polishing all those ornaments.

3. Ogbomoso, Nigeria

Ogbomoso is an ancient city located in present-day Nigeria that was a powerful Yoruba city-state during the 17th-19th centuries. The city was a major center of culture and arts, and it played a significant role in the development of the Yoruba civilization. The ruins of Ogbomoso cover an area of several square kilometers, and they include several structures that were built for both residential and ceremonial purposes. The city was also a political and cultural center, and it was home to a powerful kingdom that controlled the region for several centuries. The city was abandoned in the early 19th century. The ruins of Ogbomoso are now an important cultural heritage site, a major tourist attraction, and an important symbol of the country's rich history.

4. The Blombos Cave

The Blombos Cave, located in the Western Cape of South Africa, is an important archaeological site that has yielded evidence of early human behavior dating back to around 100,000 years ago. The cave is basically an ancient time capsule that has been preserving artifacts since the dawn of time. The artifacts found in the cave include shell beads, ochre, and other items that provide insight into the behavior and technology of early humans. The cave has revealed that early humans at Blombos Cave were not just hunters and gatherers, they were also fashionistas, as the shell beads found in the cave were believed to have been used for symbolic or ornamental purposes. The cave also yielded evidence of the use of ochre, a type of pigment, which suggests that early humans at Blombos Cave were not just cavemen, they were also artists. The cave has provided valuable information about the emergence of modern human behavior and the early development of human culture. The Blombos Cave is considered one of the most important archaeological sites of the Middle Stone Age and continues to be an important area of research for scientists and archaeologists.

5. Kerma, Sudan

Kerma is an ancient city located in present-day Sudan that was the capital of the powerful Kingdom of Kerma. It was the ancient version of a bustling metropolis, where the inhabitants were building palaces and temples like it was their day job. The city was known for its advanced architecture and engineering, including the construction of massive mud-brick structures, and it played a significant role in the development of the Kingdom of Kerma. The ruins of Kerma cover an area of several square kilometers, and they include several structures that were built for both residential and ceremonial purposes, such as palaces, temples, and tombs - all the amenities of a modern city. The city was also a center of trade. The city was abandoned in the early 15th century BC. The ruins of Kerma are now an important cultural heritage site and a major tourist attraction, as well as an important symbol of the country's rich history.

6. Madinat al-Fayoum, Egypt

Madinat al-Fayoum is an ancient city located in present-day Egypt that dates back to the Ptolemaic period (332 BC-30 BC). This city was known for its advanced irrigation systems and agricultural production. The city was built in the Fayoum Oasis, an area of land that was surrounded by desert, and its irrigation system allowed the city to be a major center of agricultural production. The city was also a major center of trade and industry, and it was linked to the Nile Valley and the Mediterranean world through its agricultural products. The ruins of Madinat al-Fayoum cover an area of several square kilometers, and they include several structures that were built for both residential and ceremonial purposes, such as palaces, temples, and tombs. The city was also a political and cultural center, and it was home to a powerful kingdom that controlled the region for several centuries. The city was abandoned in the early 30 BC.

7. Aksum, Ethiopia

Aksum is an ancient city located in present-day Ethiopia that was a major trading center during the first millennium AD. It was the ancient version of a bustling business district. The city was a hub of commerce, linking the Red Sea with the interior of the African continent, and it was also an important religious and cultural center. The remains of stone stelae and inscriptions in the Ge'ez language have been found at the site, providing valuable information about the history and culture of the Aksumite civilization. The stelae, which are tall stone monuments, were used for both religious and political purposes and some of them reach up to 33 meters in height. The inscriptions in the Ge'ez language, an ancient language still used today in Ethiopia, give insight into the political, religious and administrative organization of the Aksumite kingdom. The city was also known for its advanced engineering and architecture, including the construction of massive stone structures. Aksum was the capital of a powerful kingdom that controlled the region for several centuries, and it was also an important center for the spread of Christianity in the Horn of Africa.The ruins of Aksum are now an important cultural heritage site, a major tourist attraction, and an important symbol of Ethiopia's history.

8. Gedi, Kenya

Gedi is an ancient city located in present-day Kenya that was a major center of trade, culture, and Islamic scholarship along the East African coast during the 13th-17th centuries. The city was an important hub of commerce, linking the Indian Ocean with the interior of the African continent and was known for its advanced engineering, including the construction of elaborate water systems. Gedi was also a center of Islamic culture and learning, and it was home to a number of scholars and religious leaders who played an important role in the spread of Islam along the East African coast. It was like the ancient version of a university town. The ruins of Gedi cover an area of several square kilometers, and they include several structures that were built for both residential and ceremonial purposes, such as palaces, tombs, and mosques. The city was also a center of craftsmanship, and it was known for its production of glass beads, ironwork, and textiles. The city was abandoned in the early 17th century.

9. Leptis Magna, Libya

Leptis Magna is an ancient Roman city located in present-day Libya that is known for its well-preserved mosaics and public buildings. The city was an important center of trade and commerce, and it was linked to the Mediterranean world through its port. The city was also a center of culture, and it was home to a number of public buildings, such as the forum, the theater, and the basilica, which were used for both political and religious purposes. The city also boasts of some of the most well-preserved mosaics from the Roman period, depicting scenes of daily life, mythology, and landscapes.These mosaics are considered some of the most beautiful and intricate examples of Roman art; they're like the ancient version of a fine art gallery. The city was abandoned in the 7th century AD.The ruins of Leptis Magna are now an important cultural heritage site, a major tourist attraction, and a symbol of the country's rich history.

10. Carthage, Tunisia

Carthage is an ancient Phoenician city located in present-day Tunisia that was a major center of trade and industry during the first millennium BC. The city was a hub of commerce, linking the Mediterranean world with the interior of Africa and the Near East, and it was also an important center of culture and learning, it was like the ancient version of a college town. The remains of its public buildings and fortifications have been found at the site, providing valuable information about the history and culture of the Carthaginian civilization. The city was known for its advanced engineering, including the construction of monumental public buildings, such as the agora, the theater, and the sanctuary, as well as its fortifications, including the Byrsa hill. The city was also a center of craftsmanship, and it was known for its production of textiles, ceramics and metalwork. The city was destroyed in the 3rd century BC. The ruins of Carthage are now an important cultural heritage site.