Tiya is an archaeological site in central Ethiopia. It is located in the Soddo woreda, in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region, which is south of Addis Ababa. The site is best known for its large stone pillars, many of which have some form of decoration. The archaeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980 because of the unique nature of these monolithic monuments.
Overview
According to Joussaume (1995), who led archaeological work at Tiya, the site is relatively recent. It was dated to a time period between the 11th and 13th centuries CE. Later dating places the stelae's construction between the 10th and 15th centuries CE. However, the building of megaliths in Ethiopia is a very ancient tradition, with many such monuments older than the time of Christ.
The menhir or stelae at the site, "32 of which are engraved with mysterious symbols, notably swords," likely mark a large, prehistoric burial complex. A German ethnographic expedition visited the site in April 1935 and found stone monoliths with sword symbols at a location one hour's journey to the south of the caravan camp. These monoliths had been seen earlier by Neuville and Père Azaïs.
Surface finds at Tiya included a selection of Middle Stone Age tools (MSA) that are technologically similar to tools found at Gademotta and Kulkuletti. Because of a unique production process that uses what are called “tranchet blows,” Tiya tools might also belong to the same time span as these other two sites. Additionally, archaeological excavations at Tiya have uncovered tombs.
Gurage stelae
Tiya is one of nine large stone pillar sites in the Gurage Zone. In 1997, 118 stelae were recorded in the area. Along with stelae in the Hadiya Zone, these structures are called Yegragn Dingay, or "Gran's stone," by local people, referring to Ahmad ibn Ibrahim. However, the stelae were not made during his lifetime but centuries earlier. They were linked to him and the Oromo people because of the similar shapes of the blades on the stelae. Like other Sidamo and Konso stelae, historians believe they may have origins in the Aksumite culture or share a common regional tradition.
The Gurage stelae are divided into three types: those with human figures, those shaped like phallic symbols, and those that are neither. The anthropomorphic and non-anthropomorphic/non-phallic stelae are flat in shape, a style unique to the southern region. Many of these stelae, including the 46 at Tiya, which are the largest, have detailed carvings. These designs include swords, plant-like symbols, and a human figure standing with arms raised. Swords and plant symbols often appear together on the same stelae. The Tiya rock slabs also frequently show a T-shaped symbol.
Stelae at Tiya and other central Ethiopian sites resemble those along the path between Djibouti City and Loyada in Djibouti. In Djibouti, there are many anthropomorphic and phallic stelae, which are connected to rectangular graves surrounded by vertical slabs. The Djibouti-Loyada stelae have uncertain ages, and some feature a similar T-shaped emblem.
Research
Not much research has been done at Tiya, and there are several challenges for archaeologists trying to understand these sites. First, it is hard to know who built the megaliths because there are not many clues left behind. Second, archaeologists have focused on using stories passed down through generations to learn about people's past, but these stories are not always available or helpful in some places.