World 🢖 Africa 🢖 Gambia

Megaliths 🢔 Archaeological wonders 🢔 Categories of wonders

Wonder

Wassu stone circles

Wassu stone circles, Gambia
Wassu stone circles / Ikiwaner, / CC BY-SA 3.0

WorldBlue  In short

The small Gambia has its own archaeological mysteries. Northern coast of Gambia River is dotted with interesting megalithic landmarks – prehistoric stone circles. No one knows for sure what was the purpose of these structures.

4.4 out of 10 stars 44.3%

GPS coordinates
13.6915 N 14.8732 W
Location, address
Africa, Gambia, Central River division, in the fields east from Wassu village
Prehistoric and ancient cemeteries, Megaliths
Age
Stone rings – ˜ 750 AD, burials – in the 10th – 14th century AD
UNESCO World Heritage status
Part of "Stone Circles of Senegambia", 2006, No.1226

Map of the site

Travelers' Map is loading...
If you see this after your page is loaded completely, leafletJS files are missing.

WorldYellow In detail

Near Wassu village is located the richest site in Gambia – 11 Wassu stone circles. These perfectly shaped stones have been erected here sometimes around 750 AD.

Legends

Many local people consider that stone circles have special powers and can be lethal if disturbed. They mention the case of excavations in the 1930s when the leader of the expedition and archaeologist died mysteriously. There are stories about stones that glow in the dark and powerful spirits lurking near these circles.

Offerings on Wassu megaliths, Gambia
Offerings on Wassu megaliths / shaunamullally, / CC BY-SA 2.0

This adds charm to Wassu stone circles and certainly has helped to preserve these stones throughout the centuries.

History

Stone circles most likely were created by the local Serer culture. In this region (Senegal and Gambia) are found more than 1,000 such megalithic monuments which were created in the time period from the 3rd to 16th century AD.

According to the results of excavations (not the deadly ones but later expedition from the 1960s) Wassu stone circles were erected in the 7th – 9th century AD. Purpose of this work is not known.

Some centuries later, in the 10th – early 14th century in the centre of stone circles were buried important persons. At the end of this period here were buried some Islamic scholars thus further increasing the importance of stone circles among the locals.

Nowadays local people leave smaller stones or vegetables on the top of flat megaliths as offerings for better luck.

In 2000 there was built small museum next to the stones and since 2006 when the site was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list, Wassu stone circles belong to the most popular tourist destinations in this region.

Wassu megaliths formed as square columns, Gambia
Wassu megaliths formed as square columns / shaunamullally, / CC BY-SA 2.0
Description

Wassu stone circles have a diameter of 4 – 6 m. In each circle are 8 – 14 standing stones, next to the circle stand so-called "frontal stones".

Stones are made from laterite – sandstone which is cemented with lime and iron oxides. Initially, this stone is rather soft and it is fairly easy to form it in the needed shape. As time goes on, the stone becomes hard.

Megaliths have been shaped with great skill, most likely with iron tools. Most stones are shaped as round columns, with flat tops. There are also square columns. All stones in a circle have similar sizes and forms.

In Wassu are located the tallest standing stones in the Senegambian group of megaliths. Stones are 0.6 – 2.45 m high and up to 7 tons heavy.

WorldYellow Linked articles

Night falls over the mysterious Makasutu Forest, Gambia
Night falls over the mysterious Makasutu Forest / Forbes Johnston, / CC BY 2.0

Wonders of Gambia

Gambia is the smallest mainland country in Africa. There are not too many landmarks in this lowland country but some are very interesting. Highlights of Gambia are the numerous megalithic stone circles and European-built fortifications both to support and to stop the slave trade.

Mnajdra, lower temple. Such structures were created long before Stonehenge and Egyptian pyramids
Mnajdra, lower temple. Such structures were created long before Stonehenge and Egyptian pyramids / steve deeves, Flickr / CC BY 2.0

Megaliths

One of the most fascinating groups of archaeological monuments are prehistoric structures made of stones – megaliths. Through the ages, people have loved to strain their minds to find a sensible explanation for the many riddles posed by megaliths.

Even today, we can admit with some pleasure, there are thousands of mysteries left for us.

Kalandula Falls, Angola
Kalandula Falls / Paulo César Santos, Wikimedia Commons / CC0 1.0

Wonders of Africa

Africa has many outstanding wonders and some of the most surprising ones are the heritage of Egyptian civilization, the vernacular architecture of the Sahel region, tropical ecosystems, and others.

WorldYellow Recommended books

The Gambia: Land of the Mandinka


This third book in the Travelling Solo series, not only covers a single week in The Gambia but reflections on previous visits. In the first book, Vietnam: Journey of Unexpected Delights, the author, who thought she was joining a tour group, unintentionally found that she was traveling solo. What could have been a lonely and stressful holiday, turned out to be a magical experience, such that she has specifically chosen to travel solo ever since.

The Gambia


With 16 well-researched chapters and 26 useful maps, this new thoroughly updated second edition of Bradt’s The Gambia remains the most comprehensive guide available in any language to what is the smallest country on mainland Africa.


0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments