Package ID: 1004
Duration: 1 day
Season: January- December
Activities: Sightseeing
*Rock-hewn church- *Archeological findings- UNESCO site Tiya- and more…
A leisurely drive out of Addis Ababa along southern route on the
Alemgena Sodo road, to the famous archeological site of Melka
Konture and Adadi Mariam. Archeological findings of fossils and
stone tools have been discovered and dated to 1.8 million years
back. Not far from Melka Konture, Adadi Mariam (a rock-hewn church)
is located which is a very true example of the rock-hewn church - in
fact local tradition ascribes it to King Lalibela who is said to
have had it built on his visit to Mount Zuqwala in 1106. Damaged
during the wars with Ahmed Gragn in the 16th century, it fell into
disuse and was only reopened in the time of Menelik II. It is today
in regular use.
Our final stop today is at Tiya, classified by UNESCO as a World
Heritage Site, where we can see the northernmost example of a
peculiar type of engraved, standing stellae which stretch across
parts of southern Ethiopia. These stellae are believed to have been
erected between the 12th and 14th centuries and are almost certainly
grave markers - recent excavations at Tiya have revealed the remains
of young people of both sexes, aged between 18 - 30 and buried in
foetal positions.
Then leave for the return journey to Addis Ababa in the mid afternoon.
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