Tiya (archaeological site)

Megaliths with engraved figures in Tiya.

Tiya is located in the Soddo Region of Ethiopia. It is best known for its archaeological site, a UNESCO World Heritage Site remarkable for its large stone pillars, many of which bear some form of decoration.[1] The menhir or stelae, "32 of which are engraved with enigmatic symbols, notably swords," mark a large, prehistoric burial complex.[2] A German ethnographic expedition had visited the site in April 1935, and had found at one hour's journey to the south of the caravan camp the stone monoliths with sword symbol, which had been seen earlier by Neuville and Père Azaïs.[3] The archeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980.

A megalithic stelae field in Tiya.

Ethiopia has a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including Axum (granted World Heritage status in 1980), the rock–hewn churches of Lalibela (1978), the Semien Mountains National Park (1978), the Fasiledes Castle in Gondar (1979); the prehistoric sites of Tiya (1980), the lower Valley of the Awash River (1980), the lower Valley of the Omo (1980), the Muslim Holy city of Harar (2006); and the Konso Landscape (2011). Unfortunately, the archaeology of Ethiopia is understudied in many ways. Little research has been done at Tiya, and there are several difficulties in understanding these types of sites from an archaeological standpoint. First, it is difficult to determine the identity of the megalith builders given just the megaliths themselves. Second, archaeologists have been preoccupied with reconstructing ethnic histories through oral historical accounts, yet these are unavailable or uninformative in many cases.[4]

Surface finds at Tiya contained a selection of Middle Stone Age tools (MSA) that are technologically similar to tools found at Gademotta and Kulkuletti. Because of a unique production process that uses what are called “tranchet blows”, Tiya tools might also belong to the same time span as these other two sites.[5]

Other points of interest near Tiya include Melka Awash, the Hera Shetan crater lake, and Agesoke, a place where very tall, naturally ordered stone blocks can be seen.

Man honourary stele, with swords

Anthropomorphic woman honourary stele, with breast

A sword symbol on a stele at Tiya.

According to Joussaume (1995), who led archaeological work at Tiya, the site is relatively recent. It was dated to a time period between the 11th and 13th centuries CE.[6] Later dating places the stelae's construction some time between the 10th and 15th centuries CE. However, the building of megaliths in Ethiopia is a very ancient tradition, with many such monuments predating the Common Era.[7]

Tiya is one of nine megalithic pillar sites in the Gurage Zone. As of 1997, 118 stelae were reported in the area. Along with the stelae in the Hadiya Zone, the structures are identified by local residents as Yegragn Dingay or "Gran's stone", in reference to Imam Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi (Ahmad "Gurey" or "Gran"), ruler of the Adal Sultanate.[6]

The Gurage stelae are of three types: anthropomorphic stelae with human figures, phallic stelae, and stelae of neither anthropomorphic nor phallic type. The anthropomorphic and non-anthropomorphic/non-phallic stelae types are flat in shape, being the only stelae of this form in the southern region.[6] Most of these stelae, including the 46 ones at Tiya, which are the largest of the bunch, also have distinctive, elaborate decorations.[6][7] Among these designs are swords, plant-like symbols, and a standing human figure with arms akimbo. The plant and sword emblems can be found on the same stelae.[6] The sword design is reportedly of local "Galla" type, as made by the Oromo. The shape of its blade is likewise the same as that of a traditional Somali dagger. In addition, the Tiya rock slabs also often feature a T-shaped symbol.[8][9][10][11]

The stelae at Tiya and other areas in central Ethiopia are similar to those on the route between Djibouti City and Loyada in Djibouti. In the latter area, there are a number of anthropomorphic and phallic stelae, which are associated with graves of rectangular shape flanked by vertical slabs. The Djibouti-Loyada stelae are of uncertain age, and some of them are adorned with an analogous T-shaped emblem.[12]

Additionally, archaeological excavations at Tiya have yielded tombs.[7]