{{Short description|Archaeological site in Nigeria}}{{Infobox historic site | founded = 16th-century | location = Silame, Sokoto State, Nigeria | locmapin = Nigeria | image = Surame Ancient City Wall (4).jpg | map_relief = yes | coordinates = {{coord|13.088|4.899|display=inline,title}} | caption = Some remnants of the city walls }}
The ancient city of '''Surame''' is a Nigerian national monument located in the Sokoto State of northwestern Nigeria. It was created in the 16th century by Muhammadu Kanta of Kebbi, who controlled an empire in the region. The town was abandoned in about 1700 when the capital moved to Birnin Kebbi.<ref name="NatMus">{{cite web|title=NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS|url=http://www.nigerianmuseums.org/surame.htm|publisher=NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR MUSEUMS AND MONUMENTS|accessdate=29 April 2012}}</ref>
==Site description== Covering an area of 9 km, the site includes the foundation remains of human settlements, walls, wells and potsherds.<ref name="whc.unesco.org">[https://whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5172/ Surame Cultural Landscape - UNESCO World Heritage Centre]</ref> There exist defensive walls created from stone and mortar immediately around the settlements, as well as ditches dug around the greater area and filled in with thorny bushes as a defensive means.
==History== The ancient Kingdom of Surame was in power from the 15th to the 16th centuries.<ref name="whc.unesco.org"/>
==Nigerian Ancient Monument== Surame was declared an ancient national monument on 15 August 1964.<ref name=NatMus/>
==World Heritage Status== This site was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List on October 8, 2007 in the Mixed (Cultural + Natural) category.<ref name="whc.unesco.org"/>
==References== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{commons category|Surame Cultural Landscape}}{{Archaeological sites in Nigeria}}{{Sokoto-geo-stub}} Category:Archaeological sites in Nigeria Category:Sokoto State Category:Hausa history Category:Former populated places in Nigeria Category:Capitals of former countries Category:World Heritage Tentative List