Pillar tomb

A pillar tomb is a type of monumental grave wherein the central feature is a single, prominent pillar or column, often made of stone.

Overview
Pillar tomb in Malindi, Kenya

A number of world cultures incorporated pillars into tomb structures. Examples of such edifices are found in the ancient Greek colony of Lycia in Anatolia (e.g., the Harpy Tomb at Xanthos), and the medieval Muslim Swahili culture of the Swahili Coast (e.g., tombs at Malindi and Mnarani), which were originally built of coral rag, and later of stone.

In the historic town of Hannassa in southern Somalia, ruins of houses with archways and courtyards have been found along with pillar tombs, including a rare octagonal one.[1] Port Dunford, situated nearby, also contains a number of ancient ruins, including several pillar tombs. Prior to its collapse, one of these structures' pillars stood 11 metres (36 ft) high from the ground, making it the tallest of its kind in the region.[2]

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References
  1. Sanseverino, Hilary Costa (1983). "Archaeological Remains on the Southern Somali Coast". Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa. 18 (1): 151–164. doi:10.1080/00672708309511319.
  2. Hussein Mohamed Adam, Charles Lee Geshekter (ed.) (1992). The Proceedings of the First International Congress of Somali Studies. Scholars Press. p. 106. ISBN 978-0891306580. Retrieved 1 November 2014.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)


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