An emergency archaeological survey and documentation of the recently vanished archaeological site of Enda Abune Niwaye Kirstos, Asgede Tsimbla Woreda, Northwestern Zone of Tigrai, Ethiopia

This paper reports on an emergency archaeological survey demonstrating the potential of the archaeological site of Enda Abune Niwaye Kirstos of the Asgede Tsimbla Woreda in the Northwestern Zone of Tigrai, Ethiopia. The study area is rich in archaeological findings like pottery, lithic artifacts, remains of structures, and inscriptions. Aksumite structures with inscriptions are the most abundant discoveries. Data collecting relied on field surveys as well as recording oral traditions. The data obtained through archaeological fieldwork, as well as through observation, review of literature, and interview were subjected to qualitative analysis and a preliminary chronology was established. The site could be tentatively dated to the Aksumite period based on parallels from other sites in the region. The research helped to reconstruct the culture of the site’s inhabitants, and the site was documented before it was lost forever. The new data provides insights into the archaeological landscape, settlement patterns, and cultural traditions of the region, suggesting a remarkable continuity of cultural interactions between sites in the area. Lastly, the paper indicates human and natural destruction agents at the archaeological site under consideration and provides point-of-departure data for further archaeological investigations as well as prospective heritage and land management works.