Lalibela in its landscape: archaeological survey at Lalibela, Lasta, Ethiopia, April to May 2009

Abstract

Lalibela is one of the most important historical sites in Africa. Although described as an Ethiopian medieval capital, very little focused archaeological research has been undertaken on the site. This paper describes the results of the University of Winchester survey of 2009, which took place as part of the wider French Centre of Ethiopian Studies (CFEE) Lalibela project, whose results are published elsewhere. The results of this survey enable us to rethink the nature, development and wider context of urbanism in Ethiopia after the end of Aksum.

Lalibela est un des plus importants sites historiques d'Afrique. Bien que le site soit décrit comme une capitale médiévale éthiopienne, peu de projets de recherche archéologiques ont y été entrepris. Le présent article décrit les résultats de l’étude de l'Université de Winchester qui fut effectuée en 2009 dans le cadre du projet plus vaste du Centre Français des Études Éthiopiennes (CFEE) à Lalibela, dont les résultats sont publiés ailleurs. Les résultats de notre étude nous permettent de repenser la nature, le développement et le contexte plus large de l'urbanisme en Éthiopie après la fin du régime axoumite.

Keywords:

• Medieval Ethiopia
• landscape archaeology
• Zagwe Dynasty
• oral history

Acknowledgements

Financial support for the 2009 survey was provided by the CFEE and the University of Winchester, building upon initial seed money provided by a British Academy grant in 2008. I should like to thank the former Director of the CFEE, Dr François-Xavier Fauvelle-Aymar, for his help, enthusiasm and friendship in generating this collaboration. In this connection, Drs Marie-Laure Derat and Claire Bosc-Tiessé, the directors of the CFEE team, also provided extensive logistical help. The contribution in 2009 of Ato Fasil Ayew and Ato Abebe Mengistu, ARCCH inspectors respectively of federal and regional affiliation, is also gratefully acknowledged. The field team also included Dr Phil Marter (University of Winchester, 2008), Mr Brian Clark (Rice University, Texas, 2009, and who also made extensive and valuable comments on this manuscript) and Ato Iyassu Demissie (University of Winchester, 2009). Messrs Abebe, Clark, Fasil and Demissie all contributed important observations which are published herein. I also acknowledge the input of my Devonian neighbour Mr Gerald Gotzen, a long-time resident of Lalibela, and a fount of knowledge about local historical traditions. Additional help in the field was provided by Mr Michael Harlow and Mr Jim Heslop. Finally, my thanks go to two anonymous reviewers whose comments have helped improve this paper. Any errors remain my responsibility.