Brief synthesisThe Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi was one of the most important and densely populated Swahili cities on the East African coast in the period from the 10th to 17th centuries (and particularly between the 15th and 17th centuries). Because Gedi was abandoned, its surviving ruins strongly demonstrates the characteristics of Swahili architecture and town planning. Criterion (ii): The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi exhibits an important interchange of values on architecture, technology and town-planning as a result of its participation over several centuries in the Indian Ocean trading system between the East African coast, the Arabian Sea and Southern Asia. Criterion (iii): The Historic Town and Archaeological Site of Gedi bears exceptional testimony to the strong Swahili cultural traditions that developed and flourished as a result of maritime trade between the East African coast and the Indian Ocean from the 10th to the 17th centuries. Gedi was a substantial urban settlement with outstanding features of town planning, architecture, and infrastructure.