Regional Connections in Northern Ethiopia and Eritrea: Relationships between the Eastern, Western, and Central Highlands

Traditionally, archaeological research in the northern Horn of Africa has had a strong focus on external relationships. Connections with the Mediterranean, Sudan, and especially the Arabian Peninsula have been emphasized. On the other hand, little research has been done comparing different sites within northern Ethiopia and Eritrea. This is mainly due to the limited number of excavated and fully published sites in the northern Horn. Recently, there has been a surge of excavation, research, and publication, making it more possible than ever before to compare different sites and regions within the highlands. The German Archaeological Institute project at Meqaber Ga’ewa and Ziban Adi represents the new southern extent of excavation, while the University of California, Los Angeles project at Mai Adrasha represents the new western extent. The goal of this session is to foster cooperation and exchange between current excavation teams and discuss how our various sites may have related to each other in the past.