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New geoarchaeological investigations of the valley systems in the Aksum area of northern Ethiopia

Developments in International Geoarchaeology. Special Issue

Auteur(s) et Affiliation(s)

FRENCH, C.
Dep. of Archaeology, McBurney Lab. for Geoarchaeology, Univ., Cambridge, Royaume-Uni
SULAS, F.
Dep. of Archaeology, McBurney Lab. for Geoarchaeology, Univ., Cambridge, Royaume-Uni
MADELLA, M.
ICREA-Dep. of Archaeology and Anthropology, Ist. Milá i Fontanals, Barcelona, Espagne
FRENCH, C.
Dep. of Archaeology, Univ., Cambridge, Royaume-Uni


Description :
Recent geoarchaeological investigations of the valley systems to the north and northeast of Aksum have revealed indications of a relatively recent alluvial sequence, probably within the last millennium. The implication is that both during and prior to the Aksumite Period, there was considerable landscape stability and resilience. This is reflected in the development of soils with vertic-like properties, which instead appear to be more like organic brown earths that gradually begin to aggrade through colluvial and alluvial additions. In the last 4 to 5 centuries, the pace of alluvial aggradation appears to have increased markedly, and has deposited at least half of the sediment captured in the valley systems and lower slopes to the north of Aksum. This no doubt reflects a growing population and arable intensification.


Type de document :
Article de monographie

Source :
Catena (Giessen), issn : 0341-8162, 2009, vol. 78, n°. 3, p. 218-233, nombre de pages : 16, Références bibliographiques : 1,5 p.

Date :
2009

Editeur :
Pays édition : Allemagne, Cremlingen-Destedt, Catena

Langue :
Anglais
Droits :
Tous droits réservés © Prodig - Bibliographie Géographique Internationale (BGI)