New Dates for Megalithic Stele Monuments of Gedeo, South Ethiopia

What is it about?

This paper reports the results of an archaeological survey and test excavation conducted in one of the ancient megalithic stele sites in south Ethiopia, Sakaro Sodo. The Sakaro Sodo stele site is situated in Gedeo zone, which is known to have the largest number and highest concentration of megalithic stele monuments in Africa, with an estimate of more than 10,000 stelae in sixty or more sites. We report here new AMS dates suggesting that stelae were being emplaced about 2000 BP. Additionally, we report preliminary findings from characterizing the geochemical properties of obsidian artifacts recovered from stele sites, and stone used to make stelae.

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Photo by Johanneke Kroesbergen-Kamps on Unsplash

Photo by Johanneke Kroesbergen-Kamps on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Southern Ethiopia is one of the few places in the world where people still practice stelae construction and actively engage with the constructed landscape. The coexistence of prehistoric and living stelae tradition makes south Ethiopia an interesting region for archaeological and ethnographic studies. Understanding the origin and development of megalithic stele tradition and past regional exchange networks in the region is key to developing a regional chronology and reconstructing patterns of social interaction of early food-producing societies in Ethiopia and the Horn.

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