Archaeological Discovery of Ancient Aksumite Church at Beta Samati, Ethiopia

Archaeologists working at the archaeological site of Beta Samati in Tigray, Ethiopia have discovered a complex of ancient commercial and domestic buildings, as well as one of the oldest Aksumite basilicas dating to the 4th century AD.

Click here for story from CNN

Excavations at Beta Samati in 2016 (photo by I. Dumitru)

Excavations at Beta Samati in 2016 (photo by I. Dumitru)

A gold and carnelian intaglio ring from the basilica that shows Roman influences (figure by I. Dumitru).]

A gold and carnelian intaglio ring from the basilica that shows Roman influences (figure by I. Dumitru).]

A Christian stone pendant found in the basilica with a cross on the left and, on the right, the word “venerable” in Ge’ez – an ancient Ethiopian language, which remains the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (photo by I. Dumitru)]

A Christian stone pendant found in the basilica with a cross on the left and, on the right, the word “venerable” in Ge’ez – an ancient Ethiopian language, which remains the liturgical language of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church (photo by I. Dumitru)]

Long live the long-limbed African chicken

Story from Washington University, St. Louis concerning research on ancient and living chickens in northern Ethiopia led by archaeologist, Dr. Helina Woldekiros.

https://source.wustl.edu/2019/07/long-live-the-long-limbed-african-chicken/?fbclid=IwAR166XmAXQvwSRhPnVu9a6LXarAEiUAMnHmHwVJGfcQW_8mDACmLngukrQ4