The study sites for the management planning exercise are Pate and Siyu towns on the Pate Island; rich cradles of Swahili culture dating. The island is located in the Lamu archipelago is made up of islands that include Pate. Pate Island is located along the Indian Ocean on the northern coast of Kenya. It is the largest island in the Lamu Archipelago, which lie between the towns of Lamu and Kiunga, close to the border with Somalia.

Pate Town is a Swahili settlement founded between the 8th to the 9th century though there seems to be a gap in historical records till 1203. The ruling house of the Pate was that of the Nabahan from the tribe of Azd, maliks or rulers of Oman from 1154-1406 A.D. The founder of the line was Suleiman ibn Suleiman, who arrived on the Island in the year 1203. The Island started flourishing from the 13th to 19th centuries when it encountered a boost in its trade. In the 14th century Pate became powerful that it had conquered most of the coastal towns of East Africa. Pate town, together with Shanga and Manda formed major centers of civilization in the area.

The site connects to the open sea by a narrow, mangrove filled creek and has a water channel flowing from the Indian Ocean to the North West side of the town. 

Pate Town has ruins stretching from east to the west of the present settlements over an area of about 30 hectares.
The 18th century was known as the "Golden Age of Pate. Builders constructed some of the finest houses on the East Africa coast, with extensive elaborate plaster works. Goldsmiths made intricate jewelry, fine cloths (including silks) were made by Pate's weavers and carpenters produced fine wooden furniture.

Siyu town is another major settlement on on Pate Island. It is divided into three parts which are known as town quarters namely Mitayapwani (sea front), Shinda Yua and Maziwani. The quarters are presently located within the historic space and are built within the boundaries of the old town wall, which exists today in a ruinous state. Siyu was once the largest and most powerful town on Pate Island and at its peak it was believed to have had a population of 36,000 people. Siyu became famous historically because of its victory in several battles with the Sultan of Zanzibar.
Participants will work in four groups, 2 each in Siyu and Pate, and looking at issues bordering on archaeological and living heritage.