Yeha Archaeological Site

Yeha

Ethiopia · Tigray

SettlementIntermittent excavation
Approximate period1,200 BCE — 600 CEPre-Aksumite and Aksumite periods See on the map ↓

In brief

Excavations have investigated the temple, palace, cemetery and settlement layers. Test trenches in front of the church have revealed traces of settlement dating back to the late second millennium BC.

What was found?

  • 1Almaqah Temple

    The temple dedicated to Almaqah was built by fitting large dressed stones together without mortar. It demonstrates stoneworking in monumental architecture.

  • 2Grat Be’al Geubri structure

    The monumental structure, identified as a palace, is notable for its architecture combining wood and stone. It is important for understanding the region's building tradition.

  • 3Rock-cut tombs

    Rock-cut tombs with burial chambers reached through vertical entrances have been found at Da’ero Mikael. They document the funerary architecture of the period.

  • 4Copper-alloy sickles

    The contents of the tombs include copper-alloy sickles. They are tangible examples of metalworking and objects placed in graves.

  • 5Animal-shaped seals

    Animal-shaped seals have also been found in the tombs. They demonstrate the period's small-scale artistic and craft production.

What does it point to?

Yeha's monumental structures and grave goods show that advanced building techniques and various crafts existed together. According to researchers, the layers indicate renewed occupation in the early Aksum period after a hiatus following the pre-Aksum settlement.

What did it teach us?

  1. It documented the construction of monumental stone and timber buildings before Aksum.
  2. The temple dedicated to Almaqah provided tangible evidence of the region's pre-Christian beliefs.
  3. Excavations distinguished phases in the settlement's history when use ceased and resumed.

Images

YeHa Village, Tigray
Rod Waddington · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Record

Culture
Ethio-Sabaean and Aksumite
Team / historical
Deutsches Archäologisches Institut; Ethiopian Heritage Authority; Tigray Cultural and Tourism Bureau
Coordinates
14.2861°, 38.0184°

Sources

  1. whc.unesco.org
  2. publications.dainst.org
  3. dainst.org

Nearby excavations


—
—
12.000

From beneath the soil: latest discoveries

  • Eight 5,000-year-old loaves of bread found at Seyitömer Höyüğü

    Excavations in Kütahya uncovered eight loaves of bread preserved by charring in a fire, along with wheat and lentil remains. Found alongside the remains of an oven and shelves, the food provides direct evidence of diet and household food storage practices in the Early Bronze Age.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • 280 prehistoric engravings documented in a cave in Spain

    A detailed study of 280 engravings found at Cova de la Font Major has been published; 55 depict animals. According to the researchers, the style of some figures may help explain connections between early Upper Paleolithic art traditions along the Mediterranean coast.

    Heritage Daily ↗
  • Rock-cut seats and painted Etruscan tombs found in Italy

    Work at the Monte Abatone cemetery in Cerveteri documented throne-like seats carved into rock and burial chambers with red wall paint. The finds provide new examples of how the Etruscans reflected the identity and social status of the dead by making tombs resemble domestic interiors.

    Heritage Daily ↗
  • Older decorated stone found beneath a Pictish monument in Scotland

    A fragment of an older Pictish stone bearing a possible salmon motif was discovered supporting the base of the Aberlemno III monument; a carved human head was also found nearby. The stone fragment shows that monuments at the site were broken up and reused, while the structure to which the human head belonged remains unknown.

    Heritage Daily ↗
  • Ancient DNA reveals shared ancestry links between Vikings and Anglo-Saxons

    A study examining the DNA of more than 4,500 people who lived in Europe points to large-scale migration from northern Germany to Denmark and southern Sweden around 1,500 years ago. According to the researchers, this movement may help explain the genetic and cultural connections between Vikings and Anglo-Saxon communities in Britain.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Scented cosmetics identified in 2,000-year-old graves in Kazakhstan

    Analysis of white blocks recovered from two women's graves revealed traces of cinnamon and other plant oils mixed with chalk. According to the researchers, the materials show that scented oils transported along the Silk Road were used in local cosmetics production.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Molecular evidence of aloe use found in a 2,700-year-old mummified head

    Chemical analysis of a mummified head dating to the 8th century BC detected compounds associated with aloe. According to the researchers, this is the first molecular evidence of aloe use in ancient Egyptian mummification and adds to knowledge of the ingredients in embalming mixtures.

    Arkeofili ↗
  • Possible communal bone repository containing remains of nine people found in Mexico City

    Human bones, Aztec-period pottery and obsidian tools were found during a rescue excavation ahead of railway construction. According to the researchers, the bones may have been collected from earlier graves and reburied; the find, whose exact date has yet to be determined, could shed light on funerary practices in the area.

    Heritage Daily ↗

    All excavation sites (415)

    Türkiye

    Kazakhstan

    Federated States of Micronesia

    Guatemala

    Honduras

    North Macedonia

    Sri Lanka