Author : Profes. Marco Vigano
Year : 2010
An historical and archaeological interpretation of the Extended East Route for cultural tourism, stretching across East Ethiopia, Somaliland and Djibouti.
This brief study is composed of an introduction and a proposal to carry out a wide research in Ethiopian and North Somali medieval history, through a set of archaeological campaigns to understand better a minimally known period of great value. The proposal is centred on relationships to a new touristic route, applying action research methods. So that every finding means a new resource along the route and can become a revenue opportunity.
Prof. Ahimed Zacariah, the noted Harari scholar, has been involved in excavations in the Harla sites between Harar and Dire Dawa. A team has recovered there in 1987 a coin supposed to be Chinese, and older than that recently unearthed in Mambrui, Kenya. It is the best proof so far of how far fledged the trades were. His job should be reinforced, to also better understand the Harla’s role in the trade chains.
Koremi, a significant medieval site near Harar has never been appropriately dated.
The Kundudo massif and its underlying valleys still hide Hubat, the fief and supposed birthplace of Mohamed al Ibrahimi, the conqueror of Abyssinia, and more towns. Seven in all affirms Cherif, the museum curator in Harar. One name I recall, Samti Guey. There should be six more. Beyond Babile, in one of the valleys of the present day Elephant Sanctuary was Bia Woraba, atown found and described by Phillips Paulitschke in the late nineteen hundreds as characterised by tall orderly stone walls.
Meftuh Shash from Gursum and Toronto has only weeks ago seen there, also from Google earth imagery structures definitely worth a survey and consequent excavations.
Contributor: Meftuh Shash