Description : According to the chronicles of Timbuktu ( Tarikh as-Sudan and Tarikh al-Fettach ), which were created much later in the 17th century, Timbuktu was founded before 1100 AD by nomadic Massufa Tuareg at a watering place near the Niger Arc . Probably the origins go back to the 9th or 10th century and black African Songhai must probably be regarded as the founder of the place. However, according to new archaeological research by Douglas Park, Yale University, the ones existed as early as 500 BC. The forerunner town of Tombouze , founded in the 3rd century BC , the ruins of which are about 10 km south of today's town. After the first millennium of our era, the place quickly developed into a flourishing trading post on the important caravan route from Egypt via Gao to Koumbi Saleh in the West African Empire of Ghana.
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