The origins and development of Zuwi¯la, Libyan Sahara: An archaeological and historical overview of an ancient oasis town and caravan centre

Abstract

Zuwi¯la in southwestern Libya (Fazza¯n) 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 Zuwi¯la 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 Iba¯di¯ state ruled by the dynasty of the Banu¯ Khatta¯b, with Zuwi¯la its capital. The historical sources and the accounts of early European travellers are discussed and archaeological work at Zuwi¯la 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 Zuwi¯la and other oases of the ash-Sharqiya¯t region of Fazza¯n. 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.