Archaeological Fieldwork around Lake Tana Area of Northwest Ethiopia and the Implication for an ...

364 Pages·2014·48.13 MB·English

Archaeological Fieldwork around
Lake Tana Area of Northwest
Ethiopia and the Implication for an
Understanding of Aquatic
Adaptation
Gedef Abawa Firew
Dissertation for the degree philosophiae doctor (PhD)
at the Universityof Bergen
November 2014
Dissertation date: (cid:19)(cid:24)(cid:17)(cid:20)(cid:21)(cid:17)(cid:21)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:23)

Scientific Environment
I conducted my PhD at the University of Bergen, Faculty of Humanities, Department of
Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion through Quota programme
scholarship. Meltzer Foundation, the faculty of humanities and the department of
Archaeology, History, Cultural Studies and Religion covered expenses for fieldwork,
laboratory analysis and different seminars.
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Acknowledgements
In conducting this work, I benefited a lot from a number of individuals and institutions. I thank
all for their immense contributions. My especial thank goes to my principal supervisor,
Professor Randi Haaland, for the regular advice, constructive comments and critics I gained. I
benefited from her relentless monitoring and supervision during my stays in Bergen. Her
unwavering dedication and support was the main impetus for the successful completion of this
project. Travelling to such a remote field site and to the national museum in Addis Ababa, she
instructed me the practical and technical aspects of the data analysis. Without her practical field
supervision and theoretical orientation, it would have been too difficult to conceptualize and
materialize the huge amount fieldwork data into effect. Not only did she supervise my project,
but she had also a great concern for my wellbeing and success. Her frequent inquiry and
concern for my family, and her motherly care and advice are all unforgettable. Without her
motivation, advice and care, staying for such a long time abroad, leaving families alone there in
Ethiopia could otherwise be impossible. Her good will, moral and material support enabled me
to overcome some of the family issues and administrative challenges I encountered in my home
institution. I am lucky enough to have such a mentor. The experience I obtained from her will
be a great lesson to my future career too. I also extend my appreciation to her husband, Gunnar
Haaland, for his moral support and advice.
I am also very grateful to Dr. Terje Oeastiggard, my co-supervisor for his guidance and
supervision both in the field and in the analysis and writing of the thesis. His contribution was
not only in the academics, but he also spent substantial amount of money for the archaeological
fieldwork I conducted in Ethiopia. He participated in three of the excavations we did in
Ethiopia. Terje worked hard with great enthusiasm for the success of the fieldwork. It is always
a love to work with people like him. He is a source of inspiration, joy and courage.
I would likely to extend my gratitude to staff members and students of the University Of Bergen
Department Of Archaeology. I thank Professor Knut Andreas, Professor Ingvid Oye, Dr. Nils
Anfinest, Dr. Randi Barndon, Anna lisa, Arne Mykkeltueit, Tina Jensen, Halldis Hobek, Hakon
Reiersen, Mourice Mugabowagahunde, Henriette Maria, Henriette Hafsas, Alexandros Tsakos
and others whom I did not list their name. Their moral, material and technical support made my
stay in Bergen simple. I will not forget their concern, cooperation and support to my call for
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help. I specially thank Magnus Haaland who sketched the profiles and drawings of this thesis,
and Johan Helland whose cooperation in delivering C-14 samples and the printed copy of this
thesis is so immense. I thank him alot in deed.
I also thank the University of Bergen, departmentof Archaeology, History, Culture Studies and
Religion for granting me the scholarship and financial support for the field and laboratory
works. I am also thankful to Meltzer foundation andthe faculty of Humanities for covering my
expense for the fieldwork, laboratory, research trainings and seminars. Above all, it is to the
Norwegian government and people I owe due respect and appreciation. I am able to experience
the academic and socio-cultural traditions of the western world as a result of the scholarship
granted by the Norwegian government and people.
I owe great respect and acknowledgement for the Authority of Research and Conservation of
Cultural Heritage of Ethiopia. The Authority granted me the research permission and allowed
me to use their lab free. I also thank a number of individuals in the institute: Kebede Geleta,
Abebe Mengistu, Yared Asefa, Dr. Yonas Beyene, Thomas, Andargachew,Desalegni, Abebe,
Habtamu, and Beyene Deme for drawing the pot sherds. I also extend my acknowledgments to
Taddesse Girmay, Tekle Hagos, Nega Ayele, Dr. Alemseged Beldados, Dr. Temesgen Burka,
Dr. Kassaeye Begashaw, Dr. Mulugeta Fissiha and Dr. Temesgen Nigus. My appreciation
extends to the late Mohammed Umer (Dr.) for his scholarly guidance. Mohammed was a man
always keen to help people in need of his support. I would also like to acknowledge Dr. Dereje
Ayalew, who identified the rock sample of the site, and Dr Josephine Lesur for analyzing the
faunal remains. I thank Professor Catharine D, Andrea for her financial contribution in dating of
the bone samples. Sincere thanks to all my field assistants, officials at various institutions and to
the innocent, unreservedly willing, hardworking and courageous local people I met during the
field survey and excavation.
Last , but not least, I am deeply indebted to my beloved wife, Melkam Kelemu, and my sons,
Abel and Ananiya Gedef for their tolerance and perseverance during my extended absence
away them. I would also like to thank my brothers, sisters, parents and friends, for their roles
and contributions in my education. Collogues at Bahir Dar university, especially Tarekegn
Alemu, Temesgen Gebeyehu and Dr. Fanthun Ayele had helped me a lot in various ways.
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Abstract
I have in this thesis attempted to investigate prehistoric adaptations around Lake Tana- Blue
Nile basin of Northwest Ethiopia. The archaeological excavation conducted at a small rock
shelter on the shore of Lake Tana provided evidence of occupation going back to the sixth
millennium BP. The faunal remains and the location of the site clearly indicate that the nature of
subsistence can be described as an aquatic adaptation.
The archaeological assemblage dominated by wild fauna, mainly fish, and the abundant lithic
tools and pottery material suggest prehistoric adaptation that was practiced in many aquatic sites
of sub-Saharan Africa since at least the early Holocene. However, unlike many of those sites,
Kurtiye rock shelter lacked elaborate fishing equipment such as bone harpoons and spears, stone
rings and grooves, and pottery with distinctive decoration motifs (incised and dotted impressed
wavy line). In addition, there was no evidence indicating adoption of new agricultural
subsistence strategies until about the end of the first millennium BC. This appeared to contrast
with the situation in many aquatic sites of sub-Saharan Africa.
The lack of evidence suggesting early sedentary settlement and transition to food production, in
an apparently such rich aquatic area, may therefore reflect local variations and differentiations
of aquatic adaptation. The absence of the distinctive markers of the aquatic culture of sub-
Saharan Africa, bone harpoon and wavy line pottery, indicates that the site represents a local
variation of the aqualithic type of adaptation. Certain pottery decoration motifs, however, show
some similarities with material recovered from sites in the Sahara, Nile Valley and eastern
Africa regions which may indicate regional and interregional contact, which could also involve
diffusion or spread of material culture including domestic species. Nevertheless, remains of
domestic animals appeared very late at Kurtiye. This is surprising if it is viewed from the severe
climatic and environmental changes of mid Holocene and possibly extensive interregional
contacts the site had.
Understanding the reasons why and how hunting, gathering and fishing persisted so long as the
main economic activities in the region until the historic period is thus challenging. Based on
examination of the archaeological evidence using palaeoclimatic and environmental data,
pertinent theoretical perspectives and ethnographic insights, the thesis concluded that this
situation might have been related to local environmental, socio-cultural and symbolic factors.
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The long continuity of aquatic adaptation in the region might have been due to the abundance of
wild resources, mainly aquatic. Various local environmental constraints including the cold
plateau highlands might have affected human settlement and demography, early introduction of
domesticates, and possible subsistence modification. Socio-cultural and symbolic traditions
related to aquatic resources, as indicated in the ethnographic data, might have been additional
factor. Their role seems crucial if we examine them in relation to the severe climatic and
environmental changes of mid Holocene and wide interregional contacts. The contribution and
importance of this factor may be inferred from the hunting and fishing Woyto of Lake Tana
whose subsistence, socio-cultural, symbolic and ritual life have remained closely attached to the
aquatic bodies.
Opportunities and constraints of the local environment and locally embedded socio-cultural and
symbolic values may explain for continuation of hunting and foraging ways of life around the
site. The nature of the material remain, the site and its ethnographic evidence examined
therefore support the assumptions that prehistoric human adaptive response were influenced
both by local environmental situation and human traditions. More archaeological data are
critically required to support this interpretation.
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Contents
Scientific environment................................................................................................................i
Acknowledgements....................................................................................................................ii
Abstract.....................................................................................................................................iv
List of figures............................................................................................................................xi
List of tables..........................................................................................................................xviii
Chapter one Introduction...........................................................................................................1
1.1. Background to the Material Evidences and the Problem....................................................1
1.2. Methodological Problems and Approaches.........................................................................3
1.3. The Study Area....................................................................................................................6
1.4. Theoretical Perspectives......................................................................................................7
1.5. Hypothetical Assumptions................................................................................................13
1.6. Organization of the Thesis................................................................................................19
Chapter Two Status of Archaeological Research on Holocene Prehistory of Ethiopia...........21
2.1. Archaeological sites..........................................................................................................23
2.1. 1. Northwest Ethiopia..........................................................................................23
2.1.2. Western Ethiopia...............................................................................................26
2.1.3. Northern Ethiopia.............................................................................................28
2.1.4. Eastern and East-central Ethiopia.....................................................................33
2.2. Rock Arts...........................................................................................................................36
Chapter Three Physiographic Environment and Cultural Setting of the Study Area...............38
3.1. Physiographic Environment..............................................................................................38
3.2. The Lake Tana Basin.........................................................................................................40
3.3. The Blue Nile and Tekeze River Basins...........................................................................43
3.4. Geology.............................................................................................................................44
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3.5. Climate..............................................................................................................................46
3.6. Vegetation.........................................................................................................................48
3.7. Soil.....................................................................................................................................52
3.8. Wildlife..............................................................................................................................53
3.9. Palaeoclimate and Environment........................................................................................55
3.9.1. Late Pleistocene................................................................................................56
3.9.2. Early Holocene.................................................................................................56
3.9.3. Middle/Late Holocene......................................................................................58
3.9.4. Evidence of human impacts on the natural environment..................................60
3.9.5. Holocene climate and pattern of natural vegetation change.............................61
3.10. Cultural and Historical Setting........................................................................................64
Chapter Four Survey and Excavation.......................................................................................72
4.1. Survey................................................................................................................................72
4.1.1. Survey in Gonder..............................................................................................73
4. 1. 2. Survey in Gojjam............................................................................................79
4. 2. The Site.............................................................................................................................87
4.3. Excavation strategies.........................................................................................................91
4.4. Stratigraphy.......................................................................................................................97
Chapter Five Radiocarbon Dates..........................................................................................105
5.1. Radiocarbon Dates from Kurtiye Rock Shelter...............................................................105
5.2. Correction of dates..........................................................................................................109
5.3. Discussion of the Dates...................................................................................................109
Chapter Six Lithic Material.................................................................................................113
6.1. Lithic Tools.....................................................................................................................113
viii
6. 2. Lithic Tools Inside the Rock shelter...............................................................................118
6.2.1. Geometric Microliths......................................................................................122
6.2.2. Non-geometric Microliths...............................................................................124
6.2.3. Curved Backed Tools......................................................................................127
6.2.4. Blades..............................................................................................................128
6.2.5. Points..............................................................................................................131
6.2.6. Scrapers...........................................................................................................132
6.2.7 Engravings.......................................................................................................138
6.2.8. Flake Tools.....................................................................................................138
6.3. Lithic Tools outside the Rock Shelter..........................................................................139
6.3.1. Geomertic Microliths......................................................................................144
6.3.2. Non-geometric Microliths...............................................................................145
6.3.3.Curved Backed Tools......................................................................................146
6.3.4. Blades..............................................................................................................147
6.3.5. Points..............................................................................................................148
6.3.6. Scrapers...........................................................................................................150
6.3.7. Engraving Tools..............................................................................................154
6.3.9. Utilized Tools:................................................................................................157
6.4. Hammer Stones...............................................................................................................157
6.5. Lithic Ra w Material........................................................................................................159
6.6. Debitage...........................................................................................................................161
6.6.1. Core Debitage.................................................................................................161
6.6.2. Chips...............................................................................................................163
6.6.3. Flake Debitage................................................................................................165
6.7. Grinding Stones...............................................................................................................168
6.8. Function of Tools............................................................................................................171