Problems of Archaeological Site Preservation and Identification in the Highland Mountains of Ethiopia

Summary

This paper will discuss how historical, environmental, and social changes have effected archaeological site preservation in the mountains of the central Ethiopian Highlands, with implications for improving archaeological research in the region. Over the past decade, archaeological and historical research in the central highlands of Ethiopia has seen a growing interest to move beyond prominent Aksumite and Pre-Aksumite monumental sites to more ephemeral sites like medieval settlements and royal camps. The mountainous terrain of the highlands and its settlement history, however, has posed a number of challenges to good site preservation and effective reconnaissance. Based on fieldwork conducted around the mountains of Lasta, Amhara Region, this paper will review some of the human and environmental impacts on archaeological site preservation. These include conditions such as deforestation, the erosion patterns of intensively cultivated vertisol soils and the unintended consequences of locally organized environmental remediation efforts. The results of this research can help to better assess the archaeological potential of an area in the Highlands prior to invasive fieldwork and devise research strategies appropriate to the expected conditions. They may also contribute to better land-management practices that protect both the environment and its tangible cultural heritage.

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This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 80th Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2015)

Keywords

Spatial Coverage