HISTORY OF

ARCHITECTURE
PRE-AXUMITE ARCHHITECTURE
INTRODUCTION
 For a long time different peoples had been interacting through
o population movements,
o warfare, trade and
o intermarriage in the Ethiopian region,
 The main branches represented were the Cushitic and the Semitic.
 Semiticized Agaw peoples are thought to have migrated from
south-eastern Eritrea possibly as early as 2000BC, bringing their
`proto-Ethiopic' language, ancestor of Ge`ez and the other
Ethiopian Semitic languages, with them; and these and other
groups had already developed specific cultural and linguistic
identities by the time any Sabaean influences arrived.
 Features such as
o dressed stone building,
o writing and
o iron-working may have been introduced by Sabaeans.
 But words for `plough' and other agricultural methods of Agaw
origin.
 Various stone-age sites and rock-paintings attest to these early
Ethiopians in Eritrea and Tigray.
 pre-Aksumite culture might owe something to Nubia.
 pre-Aksumite society were on the Tigray plateau, centered in the
Aksum/Yeha region
 They also extend from Tekondo in the north to Enderta in the
south had achieved state level, and that the major entity came to
be called D`MT (Di`amat, Damot), as appears in the regal title
`mukarrib of Da`mot and Saba'.
Pre-Aksumite Eritrea and Ethiopia: Art and Connections between the Horn, Nile Valley, and
South Arabia

 There were a pre-Aksumite art of the northern Horn of

Africa from Hawlti, showing a fat woman with an
Egyptian/Kushite-styled pectoral necklages.
 It was a very common item in that period.
 It suggests the significant role of female elites within the
society, perhaps another aspect of shared background
with the Nubian Nile Valley.
 It complicates the old some what racist notion of "Semitic
colonizers" from South Arabia civilizing indigenous
Africans of the Horn.
 Though there are some similarities with this piece and
some South Arabian sculpture depicting women with
similar necklages, like
o woman's hair,
o facial features, and
o corpulence, represents something of an earlier culture that
likely was in contact with the Nile Valley civilizations and
resembles 'Black Africans“

Fig-Sphinx from Addi Keratamen

 Yeha
The Yeha site -is located in a narrow valley surrounded by
phonolite plugs and domes.
 These plugs and domes, considered to be Pliocene in
age, are found above the Trap sequence, northeast of
Adwa, in an area of about 20 km by 30 km.
 Yeha lies in a well-watered valley with deep fertile
soils, surrounded and sheltered by mountains.
 Inverted cone-shaped isolated peaks and circular domes,
shapes were later modified by differential weathering.
 The Yeha site lies in a very narrow valley which is
surrounded by the phonolite plugs.
 It is an important pre-Axumite archaeological site
mainly known by the large square temple and dated to
500B.C.
 The temples were built using stone blocks without
mortar, and is supposed to be the oldest building in
Ethiopia.
 The ruins of the temple consist of a single roofless
oblong chamber. The remaining one wall of the temple
is still standing to a height of 12 meters.
 Many stone-carved inscriptions were also discovered in
and around Yeha. They are most likely the earliest
inscriptions that have ever been discovered in Ethiopia.
Yeha
 The Yeha site -is located in a narrow valley surrounded by
phonolite plugs and domes
 Yeha lies in a well-watered valley with deep fertile soils,
surrounded and sheltered by mountains.
 The plugs are phonolitic to trachytic in composition,
forming inverted cone-shaped isolated peaks and circular
domes, whose shapes were later modified by differential
weathering
 Many stone-carved inscriptions were also discovered in
and around Yeha. They are most likely the earliest
inscriptions that have ever been discovered in Ethiopia.
The Temple of yeha
 Located about 30 Km Northeast of Adwa town.

 Though Yeha is famous for the remarkable monument known as the Temple of the
Moon, there are other remains of archaeological importance located in proximity to
the site of the Temple.
 Figure Front view of the Temple (view
from west to east).

 The Temple is a rectangular building measuring 18.5 by 15 m whose plain walls without
apertures other than a single entrance still survive to a maximum height of more than
11m.

 Regular rectangular blocks of up to 3 m length were used to construct the wall, without
the use of any mortar.

 A great precision has been exercised to dress the outer faces, edges and corners
giving an impression that the lines among the blocks were carvings into a superb
monolithic structure.

 The main wall of the Temple is well preserved.

Regular rectangular sandstone blocks of up to 3 m length were used to
Construct the walls of the Temple, without the use of any mortar.
 The interior of the building, though less well preserved than its exterior, presents
an
 amazing construction style where it is possible to see that the wall,

 the total thickness of the wall is about 60 cm, is not just a single structure but
there are two walls interconnected to each other by smaller blocks of stone which
serve as anchors.
 The floor is also superbly built with 5 layers of variously sized blocks some
measuring 1m by 50 cm, others 1m by 1m or 50 cm by 50 cm.
 Fig-ancient-pre-axumite-
temple-ruin-of-yeha-tigray-
ethiopia-africa-bgdbwk

The interior of the building, though less well preserved than its exterior, presents an
amazing construction style where it is possible to see that the wall,

the total thickness of the wall is about 60 cm, is not just a single structure but there are two
walls interconnected to each other by smaller blocks of stone which serve as anchors.

The floor is also superbly built with 5 layers of variously sized blocks some measuring 1m by
50 cm, others 1m by 1m or 50 cm by 50 cm.
Monkey head technique
 The most commonly used Axumite techniques of structure in
construction Stone and clay masonry of smaller stones

 Walls had to be strengthened at narrow intervals with long

squared timbers which further held by short round cross-pieces
the ends of which became visible as rows of protruding and
smoothly rounde‚monkey heads‛

 Axumite door and window frames were made of timbers cut

in to each other with no nails but with shallow recesses and
projection Axumite Proportions

 Axumite architecture is known for its simpler proportions

Example: Equal-equal Middle-middle-middle

Principle of ‚equal-equal‛ generates the square, cube, the 45

degree angle as well as orthogonal shapes
This method of equal-equal can also be applied for repeated division
‚middle- middle-middle‛ which produces the number series

 Agriculture leads to settlement. People needed to live where there was

good land for farming.
 The tools and materials around enabled them to build
shelter/dwellings.

 Once human beings settle down to the business of agriculture, instead

of hunting and gathering, permanent settlements become a factor of life.
The story of architecture can begin.

 Archaeological excavations in many places in Ethiopia and Eritrea.

 5.
 Construction Materials

  The Temple is entirely built of fine-grained sandstone blocks which show striking uniformity in
composition and texture, implying that they must have been quarried from a massive sandstone bed.

  The sandstone is quartze arenite (with more than 95 % of quartz grains) with some silicification,
although cements may vary from calcite to iron oxides as can be observed in the reddish to brownish
staining on the weathered surface of the blocks.

  These sandstones belong to the Adigrat Sandstone (Asrat, 2002) and the nearest natural
exposure of these sandstones is some 50 Km east or southeast of Yeha.

  However, the western equivalent of this sandstone known as the Tekeze Sandstone is exposed in
some gorges only some 15 Km southwest of Yeha.

  The sandstone used to construct the Temple may have been quarried from such gorges, seeing
their proximity to the place of construction, though no compelling justification can be given to
disregard other possibilities.
 6. METERA HISTORICAL SITE
 

The archeological sites and mounds found in the extension of the site can reveal the
evidence of Pre-Axumite and Axumite settlement periods.
Besides this, the evidence can be traced from the excavated ruins along with their
beautiful architectural features.
The stairs technology of the settlements, standing architecture and the stele of Metera
provide us with ideal image of the ancient city of Metera.
The traditional way of building houses, the “monkey head” technique, (it was the most
characteristic structural method before and during the medieval period) and local
masonry tradition is still continuing around the villages of the archeological site of
Metera.
Different scholars believe that Pre-Axumite ceramic types from Metera have strong
resemblance with the ceramic forms.
 The works carried out in Metera has progressively revealed a town with an architectural ensemble
and a popular residential quarter.
  
 The first systematic and sustained archeological research at Metera occurred between 1959 and 1970,
when Francis Anfrey conducted multiplied seasons of excavation with some survey from the Ethiopian
Institute of Archeology. Pre-Axumite deposits were documented by Anfrey’s excavation.
  
 Two excavated strata at Metera are believed to date to the “Pre-Axumite” period, in which the
upper level is associated with some architectural features including schist slabs (metamorphic rocks
in which the crystals of the predominating mineral are aligned in parallel layers, forming a large
number of close, well-developed foliations) and various ceramic types.
  
 The second and lower level, below architectural features, contained red-brown burnished (glossy)
ware(ceramic) with engraved decorations, red-orange ware with black interior, cream ware
amphorae(narrow naked-jar), black polished ware and blacktopped ware.
  
 There was also evidence of social hierarchy at Metera that is between the common people and the
elite group.
 These excavations also revealed the finding of useful and priceless archeological objects and features, including
earthen ovens, vases and oblong (elongated) mill stones.
  
 One of the most significant and precious findings of this site is a bronze lamp weighing 6,500 Kegs and 41
centimeters high. It is surmount by a motif of a round bump representing a bouncing Ibex and a dog grasping it
while running: its teeth planted in the rear-legs.
  
 This bronze Ibex belongs to the Pre-Axumite period and currently it is found in Addis Ababa museum.
 Architecture in Metera is not different from that of Adulis. Substructures of entire constructions are kept at a
height over two meters.
  
 The stele of Metera is unique of its kind, so far in the whole of Eritrea, with its pre-Christian symbol of the sun
over the crescent often associated with the moon god Almaqah of south Arabia.
  
  
 We find an inscription in early Geez or proto-Geez script reading King Agaza dedicates this stele to his ancestors
who had conquered or who made submit the mighty people of Awanjalon, Tsebelan.
 Sequence of periods in axumite architecture

 Pre-Aksumite ~ 700-400 BC
 Axumite Architecture 150AD – 450AD - 800 AD
 Post-Aksumite from 1000AD
 Flourished in northeastern Africa-majorly Ethiopia and Eritrea.
  The capital was the city of Aksum, which lies in the northern part of present-day
 Ethiopia.
  Being a powerful trading center, Aksum controlled the highlands of northern
Ethiopia and the Red Sea coast of present-day Eritrea.

  Culturally, it was closely associated with the people of southern Arabia, who spoke
related languages and followed similar traditions.

  Though the Axumites’ empire might be considered as vast and it is certain that
there are influences in art in general (as far as there are relationships among nations);
the origin of Axumite architecture is majorly indigenous, African.
 This is because:
  
 There are significant examples of Axumite architecture in Ethiopia constructed at
different times during the mentioned period of the civilization; there are relatively
no as such good examples in the other part of the world where those scholars are
claiming it to be.
 Moreover, while the architecture and/or some details of it is still influentially used
in Ethiopia, (though not well transformed and rather is copying the details) the
scholars are not widely observing it in the other part.
 The geographic location of Axum helped it to be safe enough from any open
conflict with either of the contacts or neighbors.
 However, the spread of Islam in the 7th C. AD isolated Aksum, confining Aksumite
influence
 to its immediate surroundings.
  By the mid-7th C.AD Aksum was no longer a powerful state, and the kingdom
finally disintegrated in the 10th century.
  Some scholars believe that Aksum’s collapse was hastened by overexploitation
of the area’s natural resources, which led to:-

  soil degradation,
  erosion, and
  Food shortages
Axum
  The largest steel was 33 m (108 ft) long fell in antiquity perhaps during an attempt to
erect and still lies there, broken into pieces Of the stelae still standing, the tallest is 24 m
(79 ft) tall.

  While one of the stelae was taken to Italy by the fascist Mussolini and returned only
recently, carved like some other stelae to represent the facades of palaces, with false
windows and doors and other decorations; the earlier, smaller, stelae were left plain.

  Aksum is said to have imported cloth and ready-made garments, but almost nothing is
known of the styles of dress.

  The cloth was linen, wool, or cotton. Archaeologists have found loom weights in Aksum,
suggesting that Aksumites wove their own cloth as well. People in rural areas may also have
worn leather, a typical culture still common in the northern highlands of Ethiopia.
 The stelae of Aksum are among the largest monolithic monuments ever created
by humans. The multi-story-symbol towers, erected during the 3rd and 4th
centuries AD marked the tomb sites of Aksumite kings (royal tombs) to add to
the beauty or glory of the kings and the kingdom at large.
 
 These giant stelae (single pieces of stone), weighing hundreds of tons each,
were quarried possibly a few kilometers away from Aksum as there are
evidences still today, brought to the burial sites, and raised into place (a process
that would have required an enormous amount of labor).
 
 In describing the architecture, the Axumites’ period could be studied in two
categories.
The pre-Christian period and
 
after the conversion to Christianity
 
  Other towns were located along the route that led from Adulis to Aksum. Many stone buildings have been
found away from the towns; these may have been the residences of rich local landlords Wealthy Aksumites
lived comfortable lives and used luxury domestic items (such as ceramics, glassware, and fabrics imported
from abroad).

 Construction method
  The door and the window are made of wood carpentry including the locks
and of course the frames (bordering).
  The roof is made of thatch and wooden sticks are aligned in both
directions.
  The ‘monkey head’ is the projection and recess at the wall and the
horizontal are used to strengthen the roof made of thatch that is placed on
top of wooden sticks.
  The wall does not end on the edge of the roof but it continues up as long as
30-
 40cm (like a parapet wall) this is made to make the rain water flow to one
direction. The plans are simple arithmetic forms mostly rectangular shapes.
7. Sabean architecture (south
west Arabian period
architecture)
Migrated across the red sea and settled in the extreme
north plateau (Semitic speech, writing system and
knowledge of stone architecture) and create a small
political unit. The Sabean walls:
 smooth,
 long well-cut blocks,
 Straight
 Tight joints
 Perfect
Sabean architecture( south west Arabian period architecture)
Sabean architecture( south west Arabian period architecture)

 The techniques of carving probably originated the early civilization in South Arabians
Symbols of Sabian religion
 “ the Disk & the Crescent”
 The decoration of this stone altar isclearly Architectural and depicts “Axumite type of
window carpentry similar to the pattern of the largest stales at Axum.
 New Finding In Wukro (The Almaqah Temple at Wuqro, Meqabir Ga‘ewa)
 
 New Finding In Wukro (The Almaqah Templ at Wuqro, Meqabir Ga‘ewa)

Art (example of cave painting in Ethiopia)

 a cave at Porcepic near Dire Dawa, dated at 400,000 years
and notable for its exquisitely accurate rendering of animal
forms – Antelope, Jackal and hyena are clearly identifiable
  Ancient Pre-Axumite Architecture

Also called as the South Arabian period architecture

700BC- 150 BC
first progress towards defining the sort of social structure in existence in Ethiopia
before and during the period of South Arabian contacts

earliest period indigenous occupation at only village or hamlet level,with no special

preference for situation in one or other of the ecological zones In contrast, the
`South Arabian' settlement pattern was identifiable by stone structures

After the South Arabian colonial zenith (or that of the D'MT monarchy), the earlier
pattern of scattered villages and hamlets recurs.

This is scarcely surprising, since whichever dominant power was in control, it

evidently disappeared, and with it all signs of its political supremacy.
There are no large nucleated communities or religious sanctuaries (
 Reasoning
 It has been found out that for sandstones, grain size distribution
determines the pore structure and thus the durability of the material
 Experimental studies on sandstones with various quartz proportions
indicate sandstones with the highest quartz % have the lowest porosity,
the lowest water uptake capacity and water penetration coefficient, high
drilling resistance and a very low degree of alteration
 Accordingly, the quartz arenite blocks of the Yeha Temple with their high
% of quartz grains and further silicification can be considered as highly
resistant against alteration irrespective of their exposure over a long
period of time to strong weathering agents
 The good preservation of the Temple should therefore be primarily
attributed to the durability of the material used for construction.