# Kwiha (Tigray) A Preliminary Aksumite Pottery Typology

Jean-François Breton

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## To cite this version:

Jean-François Breton. Kwiha (Tigray) A Preliminary Aksumite Pottery Typology. Rassegna di Studi Etiopici, 2024, Rassegna di Studi Etiopici, 8. 3° Serie (LV), pp.67-92. hal-05080562

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ISTITUTO PER L'ORIENTE "C.A. NALLINO"

UNIVERSITÀ DI NAPOLI L'ORIENTALE

RASSEGNA
DI STUDI ETIOPICI

Vol. 8

3ª Serie

(LV)

<figure><img src="image_3.png" /></figure>

UniorPress
<figure><img src="image_4.png" /></figure>
ISTITUTO PER L'ORIENTE "C.A. NALLINO"
UNIVERSITÀ DI NAPOLI L'ORIENTALE

RASSEGNA
DI STUDI ETIOPICI

Vol. 8

3ª Serie

(LV)

ROMA-NAPOLI
2024
## RASSEGNA DI STUDI ETIOPICI – RIVISTA FONDATA DA CARLO CONTI ROSSINI

### Consiglio Scientifico – Scientific Committee:

GIORGIO BANTI, ALESSANDRO BAUSI, GIOIA BOTTARI, ANTONELLA BRITA, GILDA FERRANDINO, ALESSANDRO GORI, GIANFRANCESCO LUSINI, ANDREA MANZO, LORENZA MAZZEI, MARTIN ORWIN, SILVANA PALMA, GRAZIANO SAVÀ, LUISA SERNICOLA, MAURO TOSCO, ALESSANDRO TRIULZI, MASSIMO VILLA, YAQOB BEYENE, CHIARA ZAZZARO

### Comitato Scientifico Internazionale – Advisory Board:

JON ABBINK, ABDIRACHID MOHAMED ISMAIL, ALEMSEGED BELDADOS ALEHO, BAHRU ZEWDE, EWA BALICKA-WITAKOWSKA, BAYE YIMAM, ALBERTO CAMPLANI, ELOI FICQUET, MICHAEL GERVERS, JONATHAN MIRAN, MAARTEN MOUS, CHRISTIAN ROBIN, CLAUDE RILLY, SALEH MAHMUD IDRIS, SHIFERAW BEKELE, TEMESGEN BURKA BORTIE, TESFAY TEWOLDE, SIEGBERT UHLIG

### Comitato Editoriale – Editorial Board:

GIOIA BOTTARI, GILDA FERRANDINO, JACOPO GNISCI, ANDREA MANZO (Vicedirettore – Deputy Director), MARTIN ORWIN, GRAZIANO SAVÀ, LUISA SERNICOLA, MASSIMO VILLA

*The present issue is the 8th volume of the "3a Serie" (the volume 4th of the "Nuova Serie" was published in 2012) and it represents the 55th volume since the establishment of the journal.*

- The Università di Napoli L'Orientale participates in the publication of the «Rassegna di Studi Etiopici» by entrusting its care to its Dipartimento Asia, Africa e Mediterraneo.

- All correspondence should be addressed to:

Redazione Rassegna di Studi Etiopici

Dipartimento Asia, Africa e Mediterraneo

Università di Napoli L'Orientale

Piazza S. Domenico Maggiore 12 – 80134 Napoli, Italy

e-mail: redazionerse@unior.it

Segretario di redazione – Editorial Secretary: MASSIMO VILLA

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Iscrizione presso il Tribunale civile di Roma, Sezione Stampa, al numero 184/2017 del 14/12/2017

ISSN 0390-0096

UniorPress, Via Nuova Marina 59 – 80133 Napoli
Ai lettori

In questo ottavo volume della “3a Serie” della *Rassegna di Studi Etiopici* (cinquantacinquesimo dalla fondazione della rivista) il lettore troverà una serie di contributi che spaziano dalla storia dell’arte all’archeologia, dall’archeobotanica alla storia moderna, dallo studio dei problemi dello sviluppo alle questioni collegate alle politiche e alle pratiche di decolonizzazione degli studi. Una simile ampiezza di orizzonti disciplinari e metodologici scaturisce da una scelta ponderata della redazione della *Rassegna*, che da tempo ha varato un programma editoriale vòlto a includere fra le declinazioni del proprio àmbito di ricerca anche alcune tematiche proprie delle scienze antropologiche e sociali. Tale scelta non contrasta con le tradizionali linee d’indagine perseguite dalla redazione della rivista, che da sempre comprendono tutte le discipline e le metodologie di studio caratterizzanti le scienze umane: archeologia, etnografia, filologia, linguistica, storia, letterature, arti e religioni. Piuttosto, s’intende in questo modo allargare l’orizzonte, per riconoscere l’importanza di ricerche che mostrino una maggiore sensibilità verso gli sviluppi contemporanei delle dinamiche sociali dell’Eritrea e dell’Etiopia, rispetto alle quali lo studioso più accorto ed empatico non può dichiararsi estraneo. Si tratta di un’opzione che accomuna tutti gli specialisti che operano all’interno dei vari gruppi di ricerca attivi presso l’Università di Napoli “L’Orientale”, e che si è imposta anche nella ricerca e nella didattica del nostro Ateneo dagl’inizi del XXI secolo.

Piace ricordare che, fra le espressioni della collaborazione fra gruppi di lavoro dediti agli studi etiopici, nel mese di marzo del 2023 vi è stata l’organizzazione e la celebrazione di un evento scientifico internazionale, il convegno *From Aksum to Lalibäla: The myth of the ‘dark age’ of Eritrean and Ethiopian history (7th–13th cent.)*. A multidisciplinary approach, patrocinato dal Dipartimento di Asia Africa e Mediterraneo (DAAM), dal Centro di Studi sull’Africa (CeSA), e dal progetto “Catalogo Nazionale dei Manoscritti Etiopici in Italia” (CaNaMEI), col contributo finanziario dell’Istituto per l’Oriente “Carlo Alfonso Nallino” (IPOCAN) e di ISMEO. Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente. Vi hanno partecipato due dozzine di studiosi che hanno affrontato il tema da prospettive diverse, ma convergenti nella ricostruzione di pagine poco note della storia etiopica.
Da relazioni presentate in occasione di quelle tre giornate (1-3 marzo 2023) scaturirà presto una pubblicazione monografica, curata da Luisa Sernicola e Massimo Villa, e inserita nella collana “Studi Africanistici. Serie Etiopica” del DAAM. Vi si darà conto dei risultati emersi dal confronto e dal dialogo fra studiosi di diverse discipline, che hanno inteso contribuire a gettare nuova luce su fasi cruciali per la storia eritrea ed etiopica, in particolare quelle relative ai periodi post-aksumita (VII-XII sec.) e Zagwe (ca. 1137-1270).

In chiusura del volume, viene ricordato Michael Knibb (1938-2023), un intellettuale la cui vicenda personale è stata tutt'uno con la militanza scientifica. Il suo contributo mancherà molto a quanti fra di noi continuano a perseguire le sue ricerche, guardando alle nostre scienze come ad altrettante forme di amore per la verità.

La redazione dedica questo volume alla memoria del Prof. Grover Hudson (1940-2022), che con le sue ricerche nel campo della linguistica semitica e cuscitica per un cinquantennio ha indicato e percorso un sentiero segnato da rigore e originalità.

Il Direttore
To the readers

In this eighth volume of the “3a Serie” of the *Rassegna di Studi Etiopici* (the fifty-fourth since the establishment of the journal), the reader will find a series of contributions ranging from art history to archaeology, from archaeobotany to modern history, from the study of development problems to issues related to the policies and practices of decolonization studies. Such a breadth of disciplinary and methodological horizons is the result of a well-considered choice of the editorial staff, which long since launched an editorial program aimed at including themes from the anthropological and social sciences within the research scope of the journal. This choice does not conflict with the traditional lines of inquiry pursued by the journal’s editors, encompassing all the disciplines and the methodologies of studies in humanities: archaeology, ethnography, philology, linguistics, history, literatures, arts and religions. Rather, it is intended in this way to broaden the horizon, recognizing the importance of research that shows a greater sensitivity to contemporary developments in the societies of Eritrea and Ethiopia, with respect to which an attentive and empathetic scholar cannot declare himself a stranger. This is an approach that unites all the specialists working within the various research groups active at the University of Naples “L’Orientale,” and which has been introduced in research and also in teaching since the beginning of the 21st century.

It is pleasing to mention that, as an expression of collaboration among working groups devoted to Ethiopian studies, in March of 2023 an international scientific event was organized and celebrated, namely the conference *From Aksum to Lalibäla: The myth of the ‘dark age’ of Eritrean and Ethiopian history (7th–13th cent.)*. A multidisciplinary approach, sponsored by the Department of Asian, African and Mediterranean Studies (DAAM), the Center for African Studies (CeSA), and the project “Catalogo Nazionale dei Manoscritti Etiopici in Italia” (CaNaMEI), with financial support from the Istituto per l’Oriente “Carlo Alfonso Nallino” (IPOCAN) and from ISMEO. Associazione Internazionale di Studi sul Mediterraneo e l’Oriente. The conference was attended by two dozen scholars who approached the topic from different perspectives but converged in reconstructing less well-known pages of Ethiopian history.
From papers presented during the three days (March 1–3, 2023), a monographic publication, edited by Luisa Sernicola and Massimo Villa, and included in the series “Studi Africanistici. Serie Etiopica” of the DAAM, will be produced. It will give an account of the results that emerged from the discussion and dialogue between scholars from different disciplines, who aimed to contribute to shedding new light on crucial phases in Eritrean and Ethiopian history, particularly those related to the post-Aksumite (7th–12th centuries) and Zagwe (ab. 1137–1270) periods.

At the close of the volume, an obituary remembers Michael Knibb (1938–2023), an intellectual whose personal life was at one with academic activism. He will be greatly missed by those of us who continue to pursue his researches, looking to our sciences as so many forms of love for truth.

The board of the *Rassegna* dedicates this volume to the memory of Prof. Grover Hudson (1940–2022), who with his investigations in the field of Semitic and Cushitic linguistics for a fifty-year period has indicated and walked a path marked by rigor and originality.

The Director
CONTENTS

ART HISTORY

JACQUES MERCIER, *Italian Art Works in Golden Age Ethiopia (1378-1527): Italian Icon Box Decors and Paintings by Märqoryos-Brancaleon*.................................................................................. 11

ARCHAEOLOGY

JEAN-FRANÇOIS BRETON, *K'wa ha (Tigray): A Preliminary Typology of Aksumite Pottery*................................................................................ 67

ARCHAEOBOTANY

ALEMSEGED BELDADOS, AMESIAS ALEMU, FRIYAT ANGESOM, *Early Evidence for Use of Moringa cf. stenopetala and the Study of Human-Environment Interactions as of the Early Medieval Period (1195-1235 cal years BP) in Konso Zone, Ethiopia*................................ 93

MODERN HISTORY

DOROTHEA MCEWAN, *The Prayer of the Father of the Bride. An Unknown Episode of Schimper's Life in Ethiopia*.................................. 119

DEVELOPMENT ISSUES

TAKELE MERID, *Questioning Sustainability of Micro and Small Enterprises in Ethiopia: A Reference from Bale Zone, Oromia Region*.................................................................................. 149
## MISCELLANEOUS

GIOIA BOTTARI, *At the Dawn of Ethiopian Language Studies: The Role of Giuseppe Sapeto (1811–1895)*.................................................. 181

ALULA PANKHURST, JACOPO GNISCI, *The Return of a Looted Processional Cross from Magdala*.................................................. 199

BULLETIN FOR 2023–2024.................................................................................. 211

## BOOK REVIEWS

Yves Gleize (ed.), *Qedem et les espaces funéraires de Lalibela (XIᵉ–XXIᵉ siècle). Vies et usages sépulcraux d’un site (ANDREA MANZO)* ... 235

Dionisius A. Agius, *The Life of the Red Sea Dhow. A Cultural History of Seaborne Exploration in the Islamic World (LUISA SERNICOLA)*..... 242

Mauro Tosco, *A Grammar of Gawwada: A Cushitic Language of South-West Ethiopia (GRAZIANO SAVÀ)* .................................................. 245

Mauro Tosco, *A Gawwada Dictionary: A Cushitic Language of South-West Ethiopia (GRAZIANO SAVÀ)* .................................................. 256

## OBITUARIES

*Michael A. Knibb, 1938–2023 (ALESSANDRO BAUSI)* .................................................. 259

Cover image: clay model of a rural house forming part of the grave good of Tomb 12, Seglamen (Tigray, Ethiopia), first half of the 1st millennium BCE, Photographic archive of the Archaeological Expedition at Aksum of the University of Naples L'Orientale and ISMEO. (photo: Laurel Phillipson).
Kʷi
A PRELIMINARY AKSUMITE POTTERY TYPOLOGY*

JEAN-FRANÇOIS BRETON

CNRS, UMR7041

breton.jeanfrancois2015@yahoo.com

**Abstract**

The existence of an Aksumite site on the Çerqos Kʷiŋa tell, long suspected due to the presence of monolithic pillars near the hilltop, was confirmed in 2015 by the study of ceramic fragments collected on surface. Surveys and excavations carried out at the site in 2018 and 2019 are bringing new insights into its organization and occupation chronology. Two monumental buildings have been partially uncovered, with well-dated occupation levels, notably between the second and seventh centuries. Their architecture is typical of Aksumite buildings. Ceramic material from the excavations, combined with radiocarbon dating, enables now a preliminary comparison with the assemblages observed on the surface.

**Keywords**

Ethiopia – Aksum – Aksum territory – Tigray – Pottery

<footnote>* The author thanks several institutions and individuals for their support and the valuable help they provided during the campaign and the studies of the pottery. HornEast Project directed by Julien Loiseau, University of Aix-Marseille. The Authority of Research & Conservation of Cultural Heritage (ARCCH), now Ethiopian Heritage Authority (EHA), its former Cultural Heritage Research Directorate Director Ato Demerew Dagne, and Bruk Jifara. The Tigray Culture and Tourism Bureau (TCTB) (Mekelle), its Director Atsbeha Gebregziabher. The Institute of Ethiopian Studies (University of Addis Ababa) and its former director Dr Ahmed Hassen Omer. The French Centre for Ethiopian Studies (CFEE), its Directors Marie Bridonneau and Jean-Nicolas Bach and its team (Anne-Louise Goujon, Hanna Siyum Tadesse). The University of Mekelle, the Department of Archaeology, Kibrom Kebede, and among its scholars Dr Hiluf Berhe, Dr Yohannes Aytenew, Dr Wolbert Smidt and Fesseha Berhe. Rozenn Douaud (CNRS, UMR 7041) for the excellent computer graphics of the ceramic plates.</footnote>
**1. Introduction**

From the second century AD, within the expanded Aksumite kingdom, a number of flourishing urban communities appear to have grown up.¹ Although not very much is yet known about the settlement pattern of the kingdom, it has been possible to identify a number of well-populated areas<fnref n="2" />. Most of the cities and villages are located along the main roads north and east of Aksum from Aksum towards Adulis, like Mätära, Qoḥayto, Tekondo Maryam. Most of them must have developed along this main trade and supply routes and at cross-routes leading into the interior. Most of these settlements lay in farming areas, nearby permanent or seasonal rivers; traces of land-use have been widely recorded. Some mansion- and-dependence groups are known in the country, but we know little about the chronological development of these so-called “villas” (Anfray 1974, 761).

While the settlements to the east of Aksum are relatively well known, like Wakarida<fnref n="3" /> those to the south-east, are much less so. Only the Aksumite sites of Ḩawzen, Gud Baḥri, Agulac čerqos (Dugast and Gajda 2014, 188–189), Nazare (Maryam Nāzrēt) (Derat et al. 2020) and Mifsas Baḥri (Gaudiello and Yule 2017) have been studied and excavated. Notably the recent excavations at Gud Baḥri by Hiluf Berhe (Hiluf Berhe 2020). As the cities of Agulac čerqos and Maryam Nazret are almost 130 km apart, it is likely that there was an intermediate settlement. From the 1930s onwards, research focused on the villages of Hegre Hariba – a site known for its medieval occupation – and ንda Čerqos below. The site has been the subject of several studies and reports but had never been excavated until 2018.

**2. The site of Kʷiḥa**

The site of Čerqos Kʷiḥa is located on the northern rim of Kʷiḥa, some 10 km east of Mekelle, the capital of the regional state of Tigray (Fig. 1).

<footnote n="11">¹¹ This paper does not take into consideration pre-Aksumite history and sites. At the beginning of the first cent. AD, most of the pre-Aksumite sites east of Aksum (e.g. Mäzbär, Ona ‘Adi, etc.) appear to have been abandoned (D’Andrea et al. 2023, 329–392).</footnote>

<footnote n="2">² For instance refer to Harrower and D’Andrea 2014; Harrower et al. 2023, 51–67.</footnote>

<footnote n="3">³ Refer to Gajda et al. 2015; Benoist et al. 2020.</footnote>
The toponym አnda ጸerqos, which applies to the hill dominating the road to Wuqro from the west and north, culminating at an altitude of 2150 m asl, derives from the name attributed to the modern church that crowns it (Qəddus Çerqos) (Smidt 2007). The site is well irrigated by several rivers, with the Dolo/Gembela to the north and Mai Bandera to the east joining to create a particularly fertile area to the north-east of ጸerqos Kʷiha (Breton and Yohannes Aytenew Ayele 2015; Breton and Yohannes Aytenew Ayele 2019).

Because of its situation on the route leading to the Afar depression and salt mines, Kʷiha was probably a trading centre from ancient times and throughout the medieval period (Smidt 2007; Smidt 2011). There were Muslim trading communities living side by side with the Christian community. Travelers and scholars have found a number of inscriptions in Arabic at Kʷiha, more precisely in the settlement of Wegre Hariba, dating to the tenth–thirteenth centuries (Smidt 2011).

The ancient site of Kʷiha occupies a rocky spur dominating wide areas to the north, and the May Bandera river to the east.<fnref n="4" /> This permanent water resource emphasizes the central position of the site and gardens are still cultivated in its narrow valley. In the northern corner there stands the compound of the church of Çerqos Kʷiha with its cemetery. The modern church under construction, built directly over the ancient mud-brick one, is a landmark visible from afar. All around the church there are remains of the ancient settlement of Kʷiha.

Some 300 m east of the አnda ጸerqos (Qəddus Çerqos) Church lie the ruins of a monumental building (some 13.70 m long by 7.5 m wide, Fig. 2; see also Smidt 2004, 268). The plan of the building was drawn in October 2014 after the cleaning of its eastern part. The remains consist of large limestone blocks lying on the ground – which can be readily identified as stone bases – pillars with or without capitals, and separate capitals. From this plan, one can hypothetically reconstruct a three-aisles church orientated east to west.<fnref n="5" />

Some 100 m west of the new church, currently under construction, three monolithic pillars are lying. Two of them are the same size (2.40 x 0.50 x 0.50 m), while the third one is 1.88 x 0.50 x 0.50 m. Because of their simi-

<footnote n="4">⁴ Referring to Tigrinya *bandera*, derived from the Italian word “flag”.</footnote>

<footnote n="5">⁵ Based on the surveys, presentation and restitution of acquired data were made at the 21st International Conference of Ethiopian Studies (Addis Ababa, 29 September – 1 October 2022).</footnote>
larities, these pillars may stem from the same building. Between 2014 and 2015, different walls were exposed on the eastern side of the Kʷiḥa site as a result of terrace building by famers and of road building.

**3. Methods: survey and excavation**

The site has been the subject of several studies and reports but had never been excavated until December 2018. From 2016 to 2017, the aim of a survey was an evaluation of Kʷiḥa's territory, with its natural resources and land use (Breton and Yohannes Aytenew Ayele 2017, 46–49). Would it have been occupied during pre-Aksumite period or late Aksumite period (third–seventh century BC)? The survey suggests that the latter period was the best represented.

An additional survey was carried in 2018 out by a Franco-Ethiopian team in parallel with the excavation of the medieval Muslim cemetery of Bilet located a few hundred metres further east, which uncovered remains predating the medieval period (Loiseau 2020; Loiseau et al. 2021). The two excavation campaigns carried out in 2018 and 2019 were part of the HornEast ERC project.<fnref n="6" />

Only the structures and archaeological levels currently attributable to the Aksumite period (second–ninth cent. AD) are taken into consideration in this paper. The Aksumite occupation is represented by two buildings (Building 1 and Building 2), both comprising Sector 2. The two buildings were reoccupied and redeveloped on several occasions but dismantled and abandoned before the middle of the eleventh century (Figs 3, 4).

<footnote n="6">⁶ The HornEast project aims to document the relationships between Christian societies in the Horn of Africa (Ethiopia, Nubia) and their Islamic environment at local and regional levels during the medieval millennium. The excavation of the buildings has been conducted by Simon Dorso, Hiluf Berhe and Héloïse Mercier (Dorso et al. 2024). Within this project two missions to study the pottery collected in 2018 were carried out in 2022 and one in October 2023 by Jean-François Breton in Addis Ababa (ARCCH). A complete typology of the pottery could be established once the material conserved at Mekelle would be again accessible.</footnote>
## Sector 2: *The eastern building*

The eastern building, partially excavated in 2018, is located in the south-eastern corner of the sector (Dorso et al. 2024) (Fig. 5). It consists of three perimeter walls running south-east/north-west, and four internal walls running perpendicular or parallel to the former ones. The building as a whole is of a uniform construction style, part-worked rubble bonded with earth and displaying the characteristics of Aksumite architecture. The perimeter walls, which vary in thickness from 90 cm to more than 1 m, have elevations punctuated by projections. It is most probably the podium of an Aksumite-type building whose superstructures have disappeared (Anfray 1963, 93–96 (“La construction principale”); Anfray and Annequin 1965, 51–56 (“Le logis central”); Breton 2015, 107–108; Phillipson 2012, 121–127).<fnref n="7" />

## Sector 2: *The western building*

Two metres west of the eastern building, a second building, with a divergent orientation, can be distinguished from the previous one by the use of irregular ashlar masonry. Only the eastern corner of this building was excavated and two internal spaces identified, separated by walls M2035 and M2039.<fnref n="8" />

Three radiocarbon dates from charcoal samples trapped in sedimentary levels were obtained for US 2118, 2111 and 2107 (Dorso et al. 2024; Dugast and Gajda 2014). They reveal the following sequence.

During the first architectural phase (Phase I), the construction of the west building and its first occupation in its primitive state probably took place between the second quarter of the second and the beginning of the fourth cent. AD. The building then had between six and nine rooms, and an Aksumite layout.

<footnote n="7">⁷ At Agulaᶜ Çerqos, “de l’ancien édifice, il ne reste en effet qu’un tertre correspondant à une portion de la plateforme monumentale sur laquelle se dressaient les anciennes structures. Les élévations extérieures ont été détruites...” (Dugast and Gajda 2014, 188). High rise podiums are also to be found in South Arabia, for instance at Tamna’ and Shabwa. See Anfray 2009, 295–296.</footnote>

<footnote n="8">⁸ M stands for “wall” (French “mur”), and US “Stratigraphic Unit” (French “Unité Stratigraphique”).</footnote>
Subsequently, during Phase II, between the second half of the seventh century and the third quarter of the 8th century, three new quadrangular buildings are erected, no longer displaying the characteristics of monumental Aksumite architecture. At least one of these buildings, an irregular quadrilateral, was built on top of the existing Aksumite building, modifying its internal organization. The paved floor levels are considerably raised to facilitate circulation inside and outside the building and rooms R2 and R3, originally interred, may now be accessible at ground level.

We present here a preliminary typology of the pottery from the Aksumite levels. The pottery comes from stratigraphic units BIL.2003, BIL.2004, BIL.2006, BIL.2012, 2045, 2096, 2103.<fnref n="9" />

**4. Description of the Stratigraphic Units (US) in the eastern building<fnref n="10" />**

US 2003 corresponds to the level covering the 2011 floor in room R1 of the eastern building. In terms of relative chronology, it corresponds to an occupation subsequent to the primitive state of the building, which we propose to date approximately between the fourth and eighth centuries AD (Fig. 5). The US yielded 129 pieces, including 12 pottery rims and 22 animal bones. Of the 13 shapes drawn, there were: 3 vase rims, 1 pot rim, 1 plate rim, 6 bowl rims (or cup rims) and 2 bases, i.e. an insignificant count.

US 2004 corresponds to a level of stripping underlying the surface strata in the southeastern corner of Sector 2. It yielded 46 pieces, including 2 pottery rims and 50 bones. This level may contain residual material due to erosion along the slope.

US 2006 corresponds to a stripping level immediately to the south-west of wall M2001.

US 2012 corresponds to an indurated white level outside the eastern building. Observed mainly in cross-section, this stratum overlaps US 2022,

<footnote n="9">⁹ The abbreviation BIL stands for Bilet, the name of the mission and the locality where the Muslim cemetery is located. The sherds inventoried during the 2015–2016 surveys were numbered under the abbreviation QW = Qwiha (Breton and Yohannes Aytenew Ayele 2019, 60–61). The author drew the pottery and Rozenn Douaud realized the infographics of the plates.</footnote>

<footnote n="10">¹⁰ Description of these units by Simon Dorso.</footnote>
which is interpreted as an exterior circulation level contemporary with the
use of the building. The altitude of US 2022 (2098.1 m asl) is slightly lower
than that of the 2011 ground (2098.4 m asl).

US 2045 corresponds to a level of pavement underlying the surface strata (US 2030) in the eastern part of Sector 2. This stratum is interpreted as a phase of ruin or levelling of the buildings of the Aksumite period.

US 2064 is an indurated light beige level covering the flight of steps to the east of wall M2048 in room R4 of the eastern building.

US 2096 corresponds to a sedimentary level (fill?) in room R3 of the
eastern building.

US 2103 corresponds to an intermediate level between US 2045 and soil 2064 (Phase III).

US 2107 corresponds to the filling of a depression/depot against walls M2038, M2083 and M2084 in the north of Sector 2. This US has been radio-carbon dated to the eighth–ninth centuries AD.

**5. Ceramic typology**

As the dates of these US are fairly close, it seems possible to make a pro-
visional attempt at outlining a ceramic typology, although this is uncertain as
the number of finds selected is not very large.

Ceramic pieces are classified by frequency, with cooking pots being the best represented, followed by vases.<fnref n="11" />

*Cooking pots* (diameter: 30–32 cm)

BIL.2003.9: Rim. Diameter: 32 cm. Exterior: grey with “granules”, 5YR 3/2. Inside: grey, 5YR 3/2. Heart: grey (Fig. 6).

BIL.2003.12: Rim. Diameter: 32 cm. Exterior: grey-black with traces of smoothing, 2YR 4/6. Inside: black grey, 2YR 4/6. Heart: grey-black. No decoration (Fig. 6).

<footnote n="11">¹¹ As the mission could not resume its work at Kʷiha, due to COVID and political situation in Tigray, we were unable to proceed to details of the fabric of the ceramics. Lacking petrographic and archaeometric studies, the following list of wares remains somewhat provisional.</footnote>
BIL.2004.3: Rim. Diameter: 32 cm. Exterior: beige/brown slip, 2.5YR 6/4. Inside: beige/brown slip, 2.5YR 6/4. Heart: grey. No decoration (Fig. 6).

BIL.2004.6: Rim. Diameter: 32 cm. Exterior: covered with fire black, 7.5YR 6/2. Inside: Grey/light beige, 7.5YR 6/2. Heart: Grey. Exterior damaged (Fig. 6).

BIL.2004.7: Rim. Diameter: 36 cm. Exterior: black with traces of fire, 7.5YR 0/4. Inside. Grey, 7.5YR 6/2. Heart: beige. No decoration (Fig. 6).

BIL.2004.8: Rim. Diameter: 30 cm. Exterior: dark brown, 2.5YR 5/2. Inside: brick red slip, 2.5YR 6/6. Heart: red/grey. Decorated with oblique stripes on the outside (Fig. 6).

BIL.2004.9: Rim. Diameter: 34 cm. Exterior 5YR 7/1, very damaged. Inside: 7.5YR 5/1. Fragment of the same pot: BIL.2004.9b (Fig. 7).

BIL.2012.1: Rim of vase. Diameter: 32 cm. Exterior: brown, 10R 5/2. Inside: brown. Heart: brown. No decoration (Fig. 7).

### Vases (diameter at neck: 15–24 cm)

BIL.2003.2: Rim. Diameter: 16 cm. Exterior: brown with traces of smoothing, 2.5YR 4/4. Inside: black with traces of firing, 5YR 4/2. Heart: beige (Fig. 7).

BIL.2003.3: Rim. Diameter: 24 cm. Exterior: brown with beige slip 2.5YR 5/4. Inside: brown 2.5YR 4/2. Heart: grey. Horizontal lines on the body (Fig. 7).

BIL.2003.4: Large open vase rim. Diameter: 60 cm. Exterior: brown, 2.5YR 5/4. Inside: black brown with traces of fire, 2.5YR 4/2. Heart: beige (Fig. 7).

BIL.2003.5: Large open vase rim. Diameter: 54 cm. Exterior: beige/orange, 2.5YR 4/8. Inside: beige/orange, 2.5YR 4/8. Heart: grey. Guilloched decoration (Fig. 7).

BIL.2003.6: Rim. Diameter: 23 cm. Exterior: brown, 7.5YR 4/6. Inside: brown, 7/5YR 4/6. Heart: grey. No decoration (Fig. 8).

BIL.2003.7: Rim with handle. Diameter: 18 cm. Exterior: black with traces of fire, 7.5YR 4/0. Inside: brown/beige, 5YR 6/3. Heart: grey (Fig. 8).

BIL.2003.14: Body. Diameter: 29 cm. Exterior: brown, 5YR/8/5. Inside: beige/light brown, 5YR 3/6. Temper: vegetal. Horizontal line at base of neck.
BIL.2004.1: Rim. Diameter: 23 cm. Outside: slip brown, 5YR 5/3. Inside: black/brown, 5YR 5/1. Heart: black. External beading (Fig. 8).

BIL.2004.4: Rim of a small vase. Diameter: 12 cm. Exterior: black. Inside: slip 7.5YR 4/0. Inside: black slip, 7.5YR 4/0. Heart: black. Horizontal groove decoration (Fig. 8).

BIL.2004.5: Rim, carinated vase. Diameter: 30 cm. Exterior: black, 2.5YR 4/0. Inside: black, 2.5YR 6/0, with traces of smoothing. Heart: grey. No decoration (Fig. 8).

BIL.2006.1: Body. Diameter: 16 cm. Exterior: beige, 2.5YR 6/6. Inside: beige, 2.5YR 6/6. Heart: grey. One horizontal groove (Fig. 8).

*Bowls* (diameter: 18–20 cm)

BIL.2004.2: Rim. Diameter: 18 cm. Exterior: Black slip, 7.5YR 4/0. Inside: Black, 7.5YR 6/0. Heart: grey-black. Horizontal and diagonal lines (Fig. 8).

BIL.2006.2: Rim. Diameter: 20 cm. Exterior: brick red slip, 10R 6/6. Inside: orange red slip, 10R 6/6. Heart: Grey. One horizontal groove (Fig. 8).

BIL.2006.3: Rim (of a bowl or small vase). Fine ceramic. Diameter: 20 cm. Exterior: orange beige, 5YR 7/6. Inside: Orange beige. 5YR 7/6. Heart: grey. Painted decoration (Fig. 8).

BIL.2006.4: Diameter: 20 cm. Exterior: black grey, 7.5YR 6/0. Inside: black grey, 7.5YR 6/0. Heart: grey. Decorated with two grooves at the top (Fig. 8).

BIL.2006.5: Small bowl. Turned. Diameter: 13 cm. Exterior orange, 2.5YR 6/6. Inside: orange, 2.5YR 6/6. No decoration (Fig. 8).

*Large jars* (height: >30 cm, diameter at neck: 17–20 cm)

BIL.2003.1: Body with handle and decoration. Diameter: 18 cm. Exterior: orange/beige, 2.5YR 6/6. Inside: orange/beige, 2.5YR 6/6. Heart: grey. Horizontal lines under the rim and crossed lines on the body (Fig. 9).

Cf. Gaudiello and Yule 2017, fig. 7-6, no. 32 14/144; Phillipson 2000, II, 319, fig. 276.

BIL.2003.14: Large jar. Body with traces of fire at the top. Diameter: 29 cm. Inside: 2.5YR 5/4 (Fig. 9).
BIL.2004.10: Jar. Diameter: 19 cm. Exterior: orange, 2.5YR 6/8. Inside: orange. Heart: grey. Decorated with horizontal lines and lines on the handle (Fig. 9).

### Plates (diameter: 25–35 cm)

BIL.2003.11: Rim (of plate or vase). Diameter: 32 cm. Exterior black, 5YR 2.5/1. Traces of smoothing. Inside: Smooth black. Core: grey-black. (Fig. 10).

Cf. Phillipson 2000, II, 314, fig. 273.

### Bases

BIL.2003.13: Diameter: 28 cm. Exterior: brown, 2.5YR 6/6. Inside: beige slip, 2.5YR 6/4. Heart: black. No decoration (Fig. 10).

BIL.2003.8: Diameter: 32 cm. Exterior: beige/brown, 10R 5/6. Inside: 10R 5/6: dark brown slip. Interior: beige/brown. Heart: brown. No decoration.

Cf. (for the shape) Gaudiello and Yule 2017, 19, fig. 7, nos 54, 55.

BIL. 2004.12. Diameter: 21 cm. Exterior: black, 7.5YR 4/0. Inside: black, 7.5YR 4/0. Exterior: decorated with diagonal lines (Fig. 10).

### Decorated sherds

BIL.2006.6: Decoration of transverse lines meeting in a circle. Exterior: 10R 6/6 (Fig. 10).

BIL.2004.11: Piece of a body decorated with oblique incisions and a horizontal line. Exterior: 10R. 5/4 (Fig. 10).

BIL 2003.10: Fragment of a fine ceramic body. Diameter: 20 cm. Exterior: orange, 10R 4/8. Inside: orange. Heart: grey. Painted decoration. Two upper grooves (Fig. 10).

Two fragments of decorated ware in US 2100:

BIL.2100.1: Fragment of decorated body, Purple Painted Ware (Fig. 11).

BIL.2100.2: Fragment of decorated body, Purple Painted Ware. Cross decoration, painted then incised. This sherd is the earliest evidence of Christian decoration at the site (Fig. 11).
Cf. Anfray 1967, pl. XCIX-30, XVIII-3, Anfray 2012, 37, figs 38–39; Phillipson 2000, II, 324–5, fig. 280e, h, i.

*Lamps*

BIL.2045.1: Lamp, modelled. Trace of fire (Fig. 11).

BIL.2045.2: Lamp, modelled. Fire mark (Fig. 11).

These two flat-bottomed rectangular lamps, without handles or associated lids, can be compared with other known examples from Aksum (probably from the late Aksumite period) or Mätära.

*Fragments inventoried but not drawn*<fnref n="12" />

US 2045:

BIL.2045.3: Fragment of shoulder and neck, handle flush with rim. Decorated with incised and crossed lines, framed by a double incised line covering the handle.

BIL.2045.4: Fragment of shoulder and neck, small flat handle at shoulder level. Decoration of incised and crossed lines, framed by a double incised line, incised line at the base of the neck.

BIL.2045.5: Fragment of the body and shoulder of a bowl. Double button decoration on the carination of the shoulder.

US 2064:

BIL.2064.1: Bowl with annular base, modelled (Fig. 11).

BIL.2064.2: Handle (?), incised line decoration (Fig. 11).

US 2096:

BIL.2096.1: Fragment of shoulder and neck with incised cross decoration framed by a double line. An incised line at the base of the neck (Fig. 11).

US 2103:

BIL.2103.1: Fragment of shoulder and neck, handle. Long neck preceded by a carination at the shoulder, small semi-annular handle beginning at the carination. No decoration (Fig. 11).

<footnote n="12">¹² Study by Simon Dorso. We were unable to access this material deposited at TCTB, Mekelle.</footnote>
BIL.2103.2: Decorated base. Decoration of chevrons linked in double incised lines (Fig. 11).

BIL.2103.3: Cup. Corded decoration of horizontal and vertical lines (Fig. 11).

US 2107 yielded a large quantity of material comprising several archaeologically complete forms, dominated by a series of bowls:

BIL.2107.1: Bowl (Fig. 11).

BIL.2107.2: Bowl (Fig. 11).

BIL.2107.3: Bowl (Fig. 11).

BIL.2107.4: Bowl with handle (Fig. 11).

BIL.2107.5: Fragment of shuttle-shaped lamp, modelled. Fire mark (Fig. 11).

**6. Preliminary results and discussion**

The pottery from Çerqos Kʷiła shows some similarities with that of Wa-karida and Mifsas Bəri but very few similarities with that of Betä Giyorgis (Aksum) (Bard et al. 2014, 291–293, fig. 4).

The sherds of Purple Painted Ware type are reminiscent of the Aksumite pieces presented by Munro-Hay (1989: 311–312) with their painted and then incised cross decorations. No luxury ware has been found for the moment and we should note the small proportion of imports consisting of a few rare fragments of amphorae of the so-called Ayla/Aksum or Aqaba type, generally dated to the third–sixth centuries and attested at the sites of Mätära (Anfray 1990, 131; Yule 2022, 120), Adulis (Anfray and Zazzaro 2016, 45, fig. 2.20) Aksum (Munro-Hay 1989, 314), Mifsas Bəri (Gaudiello and Yule 2017, 128–130, fig. 7.13.35–36, 144–145) as well as in South Arabia, notably in the royal palace of Shabwa dated to the fourth–sixth centuries AD (Breton 2023, 186–187, 189).

The site enjoys a favorable position on the north-south road linking the main Aksumite towns. First of all, the town's agricultural land is well watered by perennial rivers (May Hawy, Bandera, Dollo and Gambela rivers)<fnref n="13" />

<footnote n="13">¹³ Today, the vegetable-growing areas watered by these traditionally channeled rivers supply the town of Mekelle.</footnote>
(Breton and Yohannes Aytenew Ayele 2015). Secondly, its topographical position atop a rocky spur (2150 m asl) gave it control over vast areas.

Excavations, albeit partial, revealed an Aksumite occupation consisting of a large building (east building) and a later one (west building), demonstrating the longevity of the site's occupation until well after the disappearance of the Aksumite phase.

Although only part of the ceramic lots have been processed (the rest having been deposited at Mekelle), it is possible to draw some provisional conclusions. The pots and storage pieces clearly demonstrate the existence of a rural population, while luxury ceramics are extremely rare.

A comparison could be made with Mifsas Baḥri, “(It) lies well outside the main sphere of Aksum, and has a strong local cultural flavour of its own” (Gaudiello and Yule 2017, 272). Future work will need to assess whether the lesser presence of these ceramics at Çerqos Kʷiha reflects a marginal position of the site in relation to trade routes between the fifth and seventh centuries AD.

## BIBLIOGRAPHIC REFERENCES

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<figure><img src="image_5.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 1 – Map of the main Aksumite sites in Tigray.</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_6.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 2 – Aksumite building, view to south (cliché Jean-François Breton).</figcaption></figure>

<figure><img src="image_7.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 3 – Orthophotography of Sector 2. December 2019 campaign (S. Dorso, D. Ollivier).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_8.png" /></figure>

ČÄRQOS KWIHA - Kwiha (Tigray, Ethiopia)

Secteur 2 : Relevé simplifié sur fond d'orthophotographie du sondage en fin de campagne

Topographie : D. Ollivier. Photogrammétrie : S. Dorso, D. Ollivier.

DAO : S. Dorso 2020.

PROJET ERC HORNEAST

European Research Council - Aix-Marseille Université - IREMAM (UMR 7310)

Centre Français des Etudes Ethiopiennes - Authority for the Research & Conservation of Cultural Heritage (Ethiopia)

<caption>Fig. 4 – Simplified general plan of Sector 2 (S. Dorso, D. Ollivier 2020).</caption>
<figure><img src="image_9.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 5 – Structures uncovered in Area 2 in 2018: (a) southern part of the eastern building with its projections and redans characteristic of Aksumite architecture, and (b) broken pottery preserved on what remains of a paved floor at the corner of the walls (Dorso, 1018).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_10.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 6 – Cooking pots (drawing J.-F. Breton).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_11.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 7 – Cooking pots and vases (drawing J.-F. Breton).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_12.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 8 – Vases and bowls (drawing J.-F. Breton).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_13.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 9 – Jars (drawing J.-F. Breton).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_14.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 10 – Bases, plates, decorations (drawing J.-F. Breton).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_15.png" /><figcaption>Fig. 11 – Varia (S. Dorso).</figcaption></figure>
<figure><img src="image_16.png" /></figure>

IL TORCOLIERE • Officine Grafico-Editoriali d'Ateneo
UNIVERSITÀ DEGLI STUDI DI NAPOLI “L'Orientale”
prodotto nel mese di gennaio 2025
ISSN 0390-0096