ABSTRACT
It is accepted that the maritime environment underpinned Swahili economy and society. Not only was it central to the Indian Ocean trade that formed the basis of wealth and power, it is still reflected in the very fabric of the towns through their coral stone architecture (see Gensheimer, this volume). While that architecture is today the most visible legacy of Swahili society at its medieval peak, it represents just one element of a range of resources derived from the coastal hinterland environment that once supported the port cities. Here I review the archaeology of that maritime resource use. The investigation extends beyond the urban edge to some of the less explored, secluded parts of harbours and coastal fringe, including the intertidal zone. This area, with its rough terrain, impenetrable vegetation and absence of regular and organised transport, is nonetheless rewarding, as it reveals signs of the provision of sustenance, building and trade resources. It also was a location for industries that, for environmental and resource reasons, may have been conducted peripherally to the main settlements. Investigation of the coastal fringe complements studies of the towns and trading structures, and contributes to a more holistic view of activities and relationships in a society whose maritime heritage is so notable.
