Rock-cut stratigraphy: sequencing the Lalibela churches

Abstract

The rock-cut churches of Ethiopia have long intrigued visitors and historians -and have frustrated archaeologists seeking their sequence of construction. Do they belong to one grand ceremonial monastic plan, or a long-lived ritual centre, continually refashioned over time? Since the churches are cut into live rock, the conventional signals of archaeological phasing are hard to find. The authors address these problems at the famous site of Lalibela, showing that, embedded in the cuts and openings, the spoil heaps, and even in the now vanished sediments, the stratigraphic sequence is there to be read.

The archaeology of complexity and cosmopolitanism in medieval Ethiopia: an introduction

“…More recently, archaeological focus has shifted to investigate, for example, the longer term evolution of churches; their stratigraphy and the possible original non-religious functions of some of the structures (Phillipson 2007, 2012: 231–35; Finneran 2009: 421–22, 2012a: 266; Fauvelle-Aymar et al . 2010); examining the churches in their landscape setting (Bosc-Tiessé et al . 2014); placing Lalibela within its wider geographic context (Finneran 2012b); and excavation of a cemetery at Qademt, 500m north of the churches (Gleize et al .…”

The rock-cut churches of Lalibela and the cave church of Washa Mika'el: troglodytism and the Christianisation of the Ethiopian Highlands

“…It is now clear, from the work carried out over the past ten years (Phillipson 2009; Fauvelle et al 2010), that the churches of Lalibela were not all cut at the same time as part of an architectural programme undertaken and completed under King Lalibela. The site of Lalibela has revealed several phases of cutting that pre-date the creation of the churches or the transformation of pre-existing structures into churches.…”

“…The site of Lalibela has revealed several phases of cutting that pre-date the creation of the churches or the transformation of pre-existing structures into churches. Structures from these pre-thirteenth-century phases consist either of immense hypostyle chambers, galleries and subterranean rooms cut into the substrate (Fauvelle et al 2010), or of monumental architecture built in dressed-stone on the surface of the rock. Both of these construction types testify to a centuries-long occupation of the site before its architectural transformation into a religious centre under King Lalibela.…”

“…The identification of the spoil heaps resulting from the cutting of the churches at Lalibela represents a major advance in the knowledge of the site's transformation (Fauvelle et al . 2010). Forming large mounds on each side of the rock-cut churches, the spoil heaps cover occupation levels that pre-date the cutting.…”

3D Laser Scanning for Site Monitoring and Conservation in Lalibela World Heritage Site, Ethiopia

“…The modern village, that still has a strong component of traditional buildings (tukul), surrounds an area where deep trenches have been excavated to carve structures, trenches and passages. While the entire complex today has a sacred character, it is evident that the site was developed over a longer period than just the reign of King Lalibela, and that only some of the structures that are today churches were originally conceived for this function (Fauvelle-Aymar et al 2010;Finneran 2009a;2009b;Phillipson 2006;2009).…”