Water, Geography, and Aksumite Civilization: The Southern Red Sea Archaeological Histories (SRSAH) Project Survey (2009–2016)

Harrower, Michael J.; Nathan, Smiti; Mazzariello, Joseph C.; Zerue, Kifle; Dumitru, Ioana A.; Meresa, Yemane; Bongers, Jacob; Gebreegziabher, Gidey; Zaitchik, Benjamin F.; Anderson, Martha C.

doi:10.1007/s10437-020-09369-8

Cited by 17 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…However, in the Eritrean Highlands as well as in other archaeological sites in Tigray dated to this period, local rather than 'Ethio-Sabean' material culture is evident ('Ancient Ona culture'). This may indicate diversified and regional cultural practices [52,70]. During the first century BCE, the kingdom of Aksum appeared.…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Today's climate in Tigray is tropical and driven by the monsoon. In eastern and central Tigray, which is in the focus of this study, the mean annual precipitation during the 20 th century varied between 500-800 mm [52]. Due to the influence of the monsoon three main seasons can be outlined: Rainy season corresponds to the monsoonal season and lasts from June to September (kremt), a dry cold season occurs from October to February (bega) and a pre-monsoonal warm period with little rainfall lasts from March until May (belg).…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

“…formation [44,52,[64][65][66]. Recent detailed surveys produced very few remains of Stone Age (Early, Middle and Late) material culture [11].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

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Human movement and gully erosion: Investigating feedback mechanisms using Frequency Ratio and Least Cost Path analysis in Tigray, Ethiopia

et al. 2021

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The cost of human movement, whether expressed in time, effort, or distance, is a function of natural and human related variables. At the same time, human movement itself, whether on land, air or sea, causes environmental cost. We are looking into the long-term environmental relationship of this interplay. Gullies—linear landforms, which dissect the landscape—are considered to be a cost for human movement, as they can form unpassable barriers destroying present path networks. On the other hand, human movement creates pathways, which flatten the surface and decrease the water permeability potential. This process results in runoff generation and possibly gully erosion. Accordingly, the spatial relationship between pathways and gullies is investigated. In the Tigray region of the Northern Ethiopian Highlands, gullies and pathways were mapped using remote sensing data. Frequency Ratio was used for assessing pathways as a variable affecting the location of gullies while Least Cost Paths were tested to evaluate the possible constraining impact gullies have on mobility. Based on these results, it is concluded that a positive feedback exists between the cost of human movement and gully erosion. We further discuss possible effects gullies may have had on trade, territory, and political affairs in Tigray. Consequently, we suggest that movement cost and gullying may not only hold strictly environmental or movement-related implications, but also socio-cultural ones.

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Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

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Human movement and gully erosion: Investigating feedback mechanisms using Frequency Ratio and Least Cost Path analysis in Tigray, Ethiopia

et al. 2021

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“…Cursory reports indicate that small-scale irrigation development in Ethiopia has a long history that probably pre-dates the Axum empire more than 2000 years ago [8]. However, it might have been less important because rain-fed agriculture, terraces, and small-scale irrigation were found sufficient to sustain ancient populations [9]. In many parts of the country, traditional irrigation that involves small-scale river diversions, recession framings, and rainwater harvesting has been practiced for several years.…”

Section: Brief History Of Irrigation Developmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trend, Status, and Challenges of Irrigation Development in Ethiopia—A Review

Ayana

2021

Sustainability

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Ethiopia’s food supply and economy in general is largely dependent on rain-fed agriculture. Hence, irrigation development is vital to minimize the risk of crop failure and sustain agricultural production. The purpose of this review was to collect published and unpublished information from relevant sources and then review and synthesize key information on the trends and status of irrigation development and challenges threatening its implementation and sustainability. Historically, traditional irrigation based on farmers’ own initiative and indigenous knowledge has been practiced in Ethiopia for over 2000 years. However, well-planned, government-funded medium and large-scale irrigation development started only three decades ago. Specifically, significant progresses have been registered during the implementation of two consecutive five-year plans, the “Growth and Transformation Plans”. Currently, the total area equipped for irrigation has reached some 3.07 million hectares. However, the actual area irrigated is lower than this figure. The challenges facing the irrigation sector are related to study and design, construction or implementation, irrigation management, and lack of other support services such as extension, input services, and market. While the expansion of irrigation is still important, the poor performances and operational management of existing irrigation schemes needs to be given equal attention. As many of the problems are related to capacity and capability limitations, there is an urgent need for institutional and capacity development for the irrigation sector.

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“…This notion of abandonment, however, has recently been overturned by results of the SRSAH survey, which documented 84 sites in the region around Yeha (Harrower et al . in press). One of the most important of these sites—the town of Beta Samati—forms the focus of the present paper, which summarises the results of four seasons of excavation between 2011 and 2016.…”

Section: Archaeological Significance Of the Yeha Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%