Iwona Gajda

Prospections archéologiques dans la région de Makale et les contreforts orientaux du Tigray

Since the 1970s, the so-called “pre-Aksumite” civilisation and Aksum stand in area under discussion since the development of culture in the Ethiopian highlands appears to be, even now, the subject of much debate. What role did Aksum play, when did it emerge to prominence, and what were its relations with the other societies and cultures? And above all, is there any connection between both “pre-Aksumite” and Aksumite civilisations? One of the aims of a short visit in Tigrai region was a general survey of “Pre-Aksumite” and Aksumite sites (Adwa and around, as well as Hawzen, and on the eastern side, the region of Atsbi-Deraʾ and the one of Medri Senafe), in order to estimate the importance of the archaeological evidence. This preliminary survey concentrated on documenting several remains in these regions, some of them first surveyed by Hiluf Berhe (Aksum) and the Tourism and Culture Commission of Tigrai Regional State (TCCTRS, Mekele).

Pre-Aksumite Inscriptions from Mäqabǝr Ga‘ǝwa (Tigrai, Ethiopia)

Inscriptions Pre-Aksumites de Maqabər Ga‘ǝwa ; (Tigre, Ethiopie) ; Cet article presente des resultats epigraphiques preliminaires obtenus lors de fouilles preventives sur le site de Maqabər Ga‘əwa, situe dans la partie orientale de la region du Tigre, a 7 km de la ville de Wuqro, en 2007. Les inscriptions et les objets proviennent d’un temple d’Almaqah, le dieu principal du royaume de Saba ʾ en Arabie du Sud, venere egalement dans l’ancienne Ethiopie. L’auteur de l’une des inscriptions est le roi W ʿ rn fils de Rd ʾ m dont le regne n’etait pas atteste jusqu’ici. D’apres les inscriptions en alphabet sudarabique, les objets inscrits pourraient etre dates vers le VIIe ou VIe siecle avant l’ere chretienne.