Verified14.6700° N · 39.4200° E · 2500 m
Matara — Eritrea–Tigray Aksumite Town
Pre-Aksumite to Aksumite (500 BCE–600 CE)·Aksumite·🇪🇷 Debub Region, Eritrea
About
About Matara — Eritrea–Tigray Aksumite Town
Matara — Eritrea–Tigray Aksumite Town in Debub Region, Eritrea is a Pre-Aksumite to Aksumite (500 BCE–600 CE) ancient-city attributed to Aksumite. Hilltop city 40 ha with palace, reservoir and gold Aksumite coins at Matara plain. Anfray: Matara with southern Aksumite stelae 5 m and palace 20 × 20 m, reservoir.
Why it mattersImportant Aksumite site of coastal/hinterland Debub Region
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Trade network evidence
- 02Construction chronology
Theories
- 01Long-distance exchange
- 02Kayas sacred landscape
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 500 BCE
- Period
- Pre-Aksumite to Aksumite (500 BCE–600 CE)
- Culture
- Aksumite
- Purpose
- Hilltop city 40 ha with palace, reservoir and gold Aksumite coins at Matara plain
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 500 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1920 CE
Antiquarian survey
On the ground
Structures & features
14.6700° N · 39.4200° E · 2500 m · 3 mapped features
Matara — Eritrea–Tigray Aksumite Town — Central Plaza
plazaPlaza
14.6702° N · 39.4201° EMatara — Eritrea–Tigray Aksumite Town — Stone House Cluster
houseHouses
14.6698° N · 39.4202° EMatara — Eritrea–Tigray Aksumite Town — Enclosure Wall
wallEnclosure
14.6704° N · 39.4198° E