ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS AT BIETA-GIYORGIS (AKSUM), ETHIOPIA - 1993-1995 FIELD SEASONS

The first archaeological excavations in Tigray, northern Ethiopia, sin ce 1974 mere conducted in 1993 at the site of Ona Enda Aboi Zewge near Aksum. A large stela field associated with artificial stone platforms and human burials was investigated. Preliminary results indicate that this Aksumite cemetery dates from the Ist century B.C. to the 4th cen tury A.C. Evidence of late Pre-Aksumite occupation was discovered bene ath one of the stone platforms. lit 1994 an isolated monolith was inve stigated at Ona Enda Aboi Zewge. The 1995 excavations continued at Ona Enda Aboi Zewge, and test excavations were conducted in-the settlemen t associated with this cemetery, Ona Nagast. A large rock-cut tomb was discovered at Ona Enda Aboi Zewge with evidence of imported materials from the Mediterranean and Nile Valley Ona Nagast may provide the ear liest evidence of wheat, barley, and teff cultivation in Tigray Provin ce. One radiocarbon date from Ona Nagast suggests that the origins of Aksum may go back at least to the 4th century B.C.