Rock-hewn Churches Research Articles

Local heritage conservation practices and challenges in Ethiopia: Evidences from the ancient rock-hewn churches in Lay Gayint District, South Gondar, Amhara region

This study sought to assess local conservation practices and problems in the context of management of cultural heritage in Ethiopia focusing on ancient rock-hewn churches in Lay Gayint District, Amhara Region. Interviews, questionnaires, and field observations were used to gather its data. The authors used a descriptive research strategy, combining qualitative and quantitative methods. The findings demonstrated that causes from both nature and human activity deteriorated the rock-hewn churches of Lay Gayint. The main natural elements that damaged the hypogea's architectural elements were sunlight, rain, and botanical interventions. Intentions to repair damaged features of the rock-hewn churches were initiated and managed only with the efforts of the local communities. These local efforts lacked assistance from conservation experts and hence failed to restore the lost architectural details of the rock-hewn churches. These had also posed new challenges to the preservation efforts. The primary man-made factors endangering the churches' movable sacred treasures include theft and a lack of convenient storage for antiquities. The conservation condition of the rock-hewn churches demonstrates the current precarious state of CHM in rural areas of the country, calling for scholars' and enforcement of heritage management frameworks to preserve these incredible cultural properties for future generations.

Heritage valuing and the challenge of remoteness: The case of the rock-hewn church of Nazugn Mariam, Meket District, Northern Ethiopia

Heritage valuing and the challenge of remoteness: The case of the rock-hewn church of Nazugn Mariam, Meket District, Northern Ethiopia

Göreme Saklı Kilise Özelinde Kaya Oyma Kiliselerinde Koruma Girişimleri/Değerlendirmeleri

Cappadocia contains historical, documentary, aesthetic, artistic, symbolic, social, economic, religious and spiritual values. Many structures and places produced by the rock carving technique have been destroyed and/or are on the way to extinction because of intense destruction in the historical process. Rock-carved churches, unique in their religious, artistic, and cultural values, are among the most affected. In this study, the current status of the Saklı Church, the examination of its historical development, the architectural documentation studies with the monasteries in its immediate vicinity, the structural deterioration, and the reasons for the preservation of the rock-hewn churches in the Göreme Valley, and the current conservation strategies and practices in the rock churches were evaluated. Preservation proposals have been developed so that the cultural heritage can be safely transferred to the future. As a result, the status and deterioration of the Saklı Church have been documented with various architectural representation methods, and conservation proposals have been developed.

Architectural conservation of the rock-hewn churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia: A study on preservation and socio-economic conservation

The 11 monolithic structures that makeup Ethiopia's Rock-Hewn structures in Lalibela were painstakingly cut out of solid rock in the 12th century. Currently, these churches are facing various issues of deterioration such as exposure to natural and human-caused harms. This article critically evaluates the architectural conservation initiatives made to preserve these amazing buildings, which are often recognized as some of the most astounding architectural accomplishments in history. It carefully examines the preservation techniques used, highlighting their cultural relevance and the inherent values crucial for maintaining the Lalibela rock-hewn churches. Through the socio-economical aspects, it draws attention to the lack of funding and lack of technical requirements. Also, sustainable conservation activities develop a sense of ownership and bring awareness to the value of protecting cultural heritage. The report suggests methods for strengthening capability and creating a special conservation fund. The study uses a qualitative research methodology focusing on in-depth case studies from Lalibela, other rock-cut structures, and published academic works. As a result, this research offers valuable suggestions to encourage efficient conservation techniques. Finally, these observations contribute to a greater comprehension of the challenges in preserving the world's architectural legacies by providing helpful references for analogous sites facing similar conservation challenges.

GEOTOURISM OF AXUM AND YEHA MONUMENTS, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia constitutes one of the most significant environmental, religious and cultural reserves on Earth. The study aims to assess the geotourism of the monuments. The study has been conducted using literature review, fieldwork, data collection and production of geotourism maps and interpretations. Geosites are important resources for geotourism development in Ethiopia along the Historic route of Ethiopian tourism. This route is the main tourism corridor of the country in which geotourism knowledge is very important. Among the major geotourism sites in the study area are, Axum Stelea and its Quary Site, archaeological sites, monasteries, Adwa Volcanic Mountain Chains, palaces, rock-hewn churches, and viewpoints. Therefore, the study has concluded that knowing and understanding the geotourism (which includes geosites and historical heritages) is very important for the development of tourism in Tigray, Ethiopia.

The Gǝʿǝz Manuscripts Collection from the Monastery of Däbrä Ṣǝyon (Abunä Abrǝham, Tǝgray, Ethiopia)

The monastery of Däbrä Ṣǝyon (Abunä Abrǝham), situated on a peak of the eastern chains of the Gärʿalta mountains, is one of the well-known medieval Ethiopian monasteries. It is said to have been established in the fourteenth century by St Abrǝham of Tǝgray. According to his own gädl, Abunä Abrǝham was not only the founder of the monastery, but was also known to be an active participant and director of the architectural work of the rock-hewn church. It is known that Gärʿalta is endowed with reflections of Aksumite culture, and the monastery of Däbrä Ṣǝyon also seems to have had its own share in its continuation. Many places and monasteries (in Tǝgray) are linked to this monastery in terms of shared monastic culture and land granting. Däbrä Ṣǝyon is a rock-hewn church in which many Christian historical artefacts have been preserved. Among the non-codex written artefacts, it has preserved, in particular, a ṭawos manuscript. Seventy-two Gǝʿǝz manuscripts, most of which of hagiographical and liturgical genre, are kept in the church. All were digitized, foliated, with quire number and structure sorted out in 2018, via a project carried out by the St Yared Center for Ethiopian Philology and Manuscript Studies (SYCEPMS) of Mekelle University. Material, physical, and chemical analysis of the manuscripts was not applied due to a lack of equipment and skill. The manuscripts are now in the process of being catalogued and examined for dating, and the article provides a synthetic survey of the whole collection. The ṭawos manuscript, that is, a peacock-type manuscript from the fifteenth century, is part of the collection; its format calls for consideration regarding the definition and significance of a special style of Ethiopic manuscript culture. As a result, this article aims at introducing the monastery and its manuscript collection.

Wukro Medhane Alem: A Medieval Rock-hewn Church in Historic Gondar, Ethiopia

This study explores the historical and architectural heritage of Wukro Medhane Alem, a least-known monolithic rock-hewn church in South Gondar. Primary and secondary sources of the study were collected through fieldwork, interviews, and literature review. The study shows that it is one of the medieval churches traditionally attributed to King Lalibela (r. 1181-1221). The hypogeum has a rectangular plan being deeply excavated out of bedrock. There is a built-up feature added over the roof's edge of the rock-hewn church. It imitates a Gondarine architectural tradition, implying the transition from the earlier rock-hewn tradition to the building architectural orientation of the Gondarine period (1636-1769). Its hypogeum reflects an Aksumite and medieval architectural tradition. Internally, the basilica is partitioned into kine mahilet (chanting), kiddist (holy) and mekides or kiddiste kiddusan (sanctuary) rooms through the arranged rock-hewn pillars, which are refined with arches, capitals, and entablatures that create the ceiling of the roof which is also decorated with engraved cruciform, geometrical, quadrifoliate, and crown-like protruding features. The kiddiste kiddusan has six sub-sanctuaries with doubled circular domed roofs and rectangular altars cut from the main rock. The hypogeum, thus, has such potential values to be promoted as an alternative tourist site in historic Gondar, which is mainly known to tourists for its built palaces.

Monuments of Ethiopian Church Architecture in the Geralta Region: Materials of Field Research in Autumn 2020 in the Tigray Region (Ethiopia)

The article, based on the results of field research in the fall of 2020, focuses on four churches in the mountainous Gärʽalta district in central Tǝgray. This strategically located most important role in the history of the Ethiopian state and region. There are many hard-to-reach rock-hewn churches that were centers of monastic activity. Gärʽalta’s many rock-hewn churches are well represented in the scientific literature. The focus of the work is three rock-hewn and one built churches, little studied in terms of analyzing their architectural plans and forms: Arbaʽǝtu Ǝnsǝsa (Mikaʼel) Gundo, Abunä Zärʼa Buruk, Kidanä Mǝḥrät Yaʽid, Maryam Pappasäyti. The article puts forward proposals on the typology of monuments, their dating; features characteristic of the architectural tradition of the historical period and, on the contrary, unique, inherent in the churches. Special attention is paid to the works of religious painting found in the interiors of these churches. Arbaʽǝtu Ǝnsǝsa (Mikaʼel) Gundo combines the features of two types of temples: traditional three-aisled basilicas and “open” plan basilicas. Abunä Zärʼa Buruk is an open plan temple. Kidanä Mǝḥrät Yaʽid characterizes the roughness of the forms, while retaining the common features of the three-nave plan. The temple at Pappasäyti continues to a certain extent the tradition of building church buildings in caves or in close association with rock formations. Additional relevance of the work is given by the fact that data collection in the course of field research immediately before the armed conflict in the northern Ethiopian region of Tǝgray started.

Eastern and Western Influence in Wall Paintings of Abuna Yemata Guh Church (Ethiopia)

The rock-hewn church Abuna Yemata Guh, situated in the Gheralta Mountains of the Ethiopian Tigray region, houses one of the best preserved and least studied wall paintings of medieval Ethiopia. The pictorial program is dated to the second half of 15th century, by stylistic and iconographic characteristics. In fact, no well-proved date has been suggested so far. This research seeks to bridge the existing scholarly gap by conducting a comprehensive analysis of the iconographic and stylistic attributes of the paintings. It also considers the historical backdrop of the church, identifying key conduits of cultural influence. Furthermore, the study incorporates a scientific examination of the pigments employed in the paintings of Abuna Yemata Guh, comparing them with those found in other Ethiopian churches. The artistic motifs found within the paintings of Abuna Yemata Guh indicate an amalgamation of influences, notably drawing from Osman and Goan Christian art traditions. Additionally, traces of the iconographic style seen in the Roman icon Salus populi romani are evident, with a copy of this icon only arriving in Ethiopia after the 1570s. Consequently, the most plausible timeframe for the execution of the wall paintings falls within the latter part of the 16th c.

Non-Destructive Analysis to Investigate the Stone Alterations at a UNESCO World Heritage Site

This study concerns the eleven monolithic churches in Lalibela, in northeastern Ethiopia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and currently the main pilgrimage site in Ethiopia. In 2019, on the initiative of Prime Minister, the French authorities proposed their support in the management on the site of the churches. To do so, the French Development Agency (AFD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs and with the support of the Ministry of Culture, granted a feasibility study to examine ways of restoring, conserving, and developing the rock-hewn churches. The objective of the feasibility study conducted was to produce the preliminary technical diagnostics required for the preparation of the comprehensive project to restore, conserve, and develop the site. In order to propose a protection and conservation solution, diagnostics and analysis of the pathology of the rocks were made during two campaigns in November 2019 and November 2020. The rock pathology teams implemented non-destructive and minimally invasive analysis. The complementary methods acquire data from the rock surface and the different forms of differential alteration of the scoriaceous basalt. The objective is to characterize, through comparative analyses, the impact of a protective shelter on the alteration kinetics of the rock. The analysis, coupled with on-site observations, suggests that deterioration linked to liquid water and the persistence of a state of high water content is more damaging than the deterioration risk linked to salt crystallization. As water is the key factor in the very harmful alteration for the conservation of scoriaceous basalt as a heritage material in humid natural environments, it seems useful to fully cover the churches. Doi: 10.28991/HEF-2022-03-02-01 Full Text: PDF

VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE AND THE VALORISATION OF LOCAL MEDIEVAL HERITAGE: THE TOWN OF CHERVEN AND THE ROCK-HEWN CHURCHES OF IVANOVO

This paper aims to present the process of constructing a virtual reality experience that delivers a lively image of the heritage of the Middle Ages in the region of Ruse. The paper examines the activities performed by the Rousse Regional Museum of History in 2021–2022 that resulted in the creation of virtual reality products which present the medieval townof Cherven and the rock-hewn churches of Ivanovo (World Heritage Site), located in the Rusenski Lom River valley. The process of creation of these products raises the question of valorisation of the heritage of the Middle Ages in the area, as well as the secondary research phases, related to scientific statements, constructed during more than a century of archaeologicalresearch.

English

The rock hewn churches of Lalibela are among the nine tangible sites in Ethiopia registered in the world heritage list. The study was carried out to asses and identifies the major challenges and future perspectives of Rock Hewn Churches of Lalibela (RHCL) for a sustainable tourism development in Ethiopia. The study used concurrent mixed method of data collection such as questionnaire, interview, observation and document review. A total of 288 respondents from local communities and visitors were used for collecting primary information via semi-structured questioner. The majority of respondents are participating in tourism sector such as in accommodation, shopping, hotel, cooking and traditional performance, serving as priest and being experts in the city administration office of culture and tourism. Despite its importance, regarding the negative impact of tourism; the majority of respondents 70 (63.6%) agreed and 27 (24.3%) disagree for the question “tourism has increased the level of commercialized culture in Lalibela town. Around 87.6% of the respondents were their first trip to visit the RHCL. Hence, among the RHCL Bete Amanuel, Bete Abba Libanos, Bete Medhanealem, Bete Merkorios, Bete Giorgis are highly endangered in the parts such as roof, pillars, interior and exterior parts cracking due to the newly constructed shelter load and geological, climate and biological factors. The conservation and maintenance works used to sustain tourism practices in Lalibela lacks adequacy. Therefore, the stakeholders of the RHCL such as government organizations, local community, civil societies and development investors must work to meet standards for conserving and sustaining tourism development practices in Ethiopia, particularly in Lalibela town.   Key words: Conservation, Ethiopia, Lalibela, sustainable, tourism.

Yoḥannәs Mäțmәq (Saint-Jean Baptiste) de Gazen (Tәgray) : l’église et son baptistère. Nouvelles hypothèses

Dedicated to the rock-hewn church of John the Baptist (Yoḥannәs Mäțmәq) of Gazen, in Eastern Tәgray, which has received little attention so far, this paper aims to specify its chronology and to shed light on its function. It is a vast three-aisled basilica, covered with ceilings, the naves being separated by pillars supporting an architrave. The sanctuary, extended by a semicircular apse, is flanked by annexes, including, at the southern end, a baptistery, which adds to the very few examples so far recorded in Ethiopia. If the precise ceremony ritual procedures escape us, we can at least reconstruct the dynamics of circulation of baptismal candidates. The architecture of the church has many points in common with the basilicas of the Aksumite period, but also, more broadly, with the early Christian churches of the Eastern Mediterranean, which leads us to suggest a 6th century or early 7th century dating ; this hypothesis is not contradicted by the evidence recently brought by archaeology for this region. Furthermore, this chronology, if accepted, could invite reconsideration of that of other rock-cut churches (Dәgum Sәellase, Bäraqit Maryam, Ḥawzen Täklä Haymanot). Easily accessible, of imposing dimensions, with benches along the walls and endowed with a baptistery, the church of Yoḥannәs Mäțmәq was intended to accommodate a large number of faithful. Its use was not limited to a funeral function, hitherto privileged in scholarship ; the hypothesis of a pilgrimage center, where baptism could be carried out, can be considered. Finally, the church of Gazen, whose commissioners are unknown, but which testifies to a substantial investment, may have played a role in the Christianization process of the rural populations of Eastern Tәgray.

Inventory and Assessment of Geosites for Geotourism Development in the Eastern and Southeastern Lake Tana Region, Ethiopia

Geotourism is a niche form of sustainable tourism that focuses on the geological and geomorphological features of an area, and the associated culture and biodiversity. Geosites are important resources for geotourism development. The eastern and southeastern Lake Tana region in Ethiopia has several geosites with a potential for geotourism development. Despite the diversity of potential geosites and the strategic location of the area in the Northern Tourist Circuit of Ethiopia, only a few attractions such as Lake Tana and the Blue Nile Falls are currently being visited. The objective of this paper is twofold: to inventory geosites in the eastern and southeastern Lake Tana region and assess their potential for geotourism development; and to propose a geosite inventory and assessment methodology for geotourism purposes with adaptations from previous studies. Several studies were reviewed and finally nine of them used as the main references to prepare the criteria, indicators, and sub-indicators for this study. The indicators used for assessing the potential of geosites relate to scientific, educational, scenic, recreational, protection, functional, and ecological values. This research presents the first inventory of geosites in the Lake Tana basin. A first list of 120 geosites has been inventoried. Further screening and clustering resulted in 61 geosites, of which 17 are viewpoints. Among the major geosites are waterfalls, a lake with islands and island monasteries, a flood plain, caves and cave churches, lava tubes, a mountain (shield volcano), volcanic plugs, volcanic cones, rock-hewn churches, and viewpoints. Quantitative assessment of the geotouristic potential of these geosites revealed that clustered (complex area) geosites received higher scientific, scenic, and recreational value scores.

A Rock-Hewn Yǝmrǝḥannä Krǝstos? An Investigation into Possible ‘Northern’ Zagwe Churches near ʿAddigrat, Tǝgray

Rulers of the short-lived Zagwe dynasty have long been lauded for their role as builderkings, producing several churches in the Lalibäla complex in Lasta in addition to the nearby church of Yǝmrǝḥannä Krǝstos. Despite some textual evidence linking this group to Tǝgray, scholars have not hitherto identified any particularly ‘Zagwe’ buildings therein. This paper proposes that several rock-hewn churches near ʿAddigrat in Tǝgray may be the product of thirteenth-century Zagwe church building. My hypothesis is anchored by my identification of the church of Gwaḥgot Iyäsus as a hewn copy of Yǝmrǝḥannä Krǝstos in both form and measurements. This church, which replicates the dimensions of this famous free-standing church almost exactly, also has wood elements within that were seemingly imported from Lasta. Furthermore, I connect the painted decorations to other churches in the cluster: Maryam Qiʿat and even Maryam Qorqor in Gärʿalta. By expanding our view of the Zagwe dynasty towards Tǝgray, we may better understand this little-known period of Ethiopian history.

Rock-hewn churches near the village of Ivanovo, NE Bulgaria: cultural value and geoconservation problems

Rock-hewn churches near the village of Ivanovo, NE Bulgaria: cultural value and geoconservation problems

The Results of New Research in the Tigray Region, Ethiopia: Three Rock-hewn Churches of Kola Tembien as Historical Sources

The article is devoted to the results of research focused on three rock-hewn churches, which are not well-represented in literature, in Kola Tembien of the Tigray region in Ethiopia. Fieldwork was carried out with the financial support of the Russian foundation for Basic Research. Trips to the site were conducted in the autumn of 2019 and 2020. The problems of dating and typology is the focus of this research. In the article, three churches are described — Mikaʼel ʽAddi Kawa, Abunä Fäqadä Amlak in ʽAdi Śərä and Maryam Degol Chako. Special reference is made to the architectural ties of these three monuments with others of the region in order to reveal the possible mutual influence of architectural constructions and some decorative elements. Information on these churches has not been published since the time of cooperative research by Ruth Plant and David Buxton in the 1970s. Particular attention in the article is paid to the churches Abunä Fäqadä Amlak inʽAdi Śərä and Maryam Degol Chako as they have very rich paintings on canvas dating from the middle of the XX century. These paintings are valuable not only as art objects of Christian Ethiopia, but also as important sources of the cultural and political history of Tigray. Unfortunately, the preservation of these paintings in the studied churches raises concerns. The article presents new authentic material on the described churches. Photographs of the interiors are published for the first time. In addition, on the basis of the iconographic and architectural analysis, a number of hypotheses by the author are presented for further discussion and verification. It is worth noting the possibility of reconstructing the previous basilica rock-hewn churches into centric structures by building the interior the walls.

Скальные храмы деревни Ангуа (Тыграй, Эфиопия) — памятники трёх исторических эпох

The article is based on the results of a field study carried out with the financial support of the Russian Foundation for Basic Research in the fall of 2020. It has been devoted to the analysis of three rock-hewn churches created in different historical periods (including one modern monument) around the village of Angua, located in the mountainous region of Geralta (Tigray, Ethiopia). The text examines the characteristic features of the monuments, expounds the author’s position on their typological affiliation and dating, and describes their current state of preservation. These churches illustrate the three most important periods in the history of the Tigray region, during which one of the most active phases of the creation of rock-hewn churches has occurred. The article also examines the historical reasons behind these periods of construction activity. This research has been completed with the support of the Russian Foundation of Basic Research, project № 19-012-00299.

Methods for Rock-hewn Worksite Analysis: The Church of Göreme n° 4b (Cappadocia): A Case Study

Some rock-hewn structures present oddities in their layout, far from the models shared by the majority of similar monuments. These particularities challenge and question the very process of their design. While a technical survey may explain part of these singular cases, a careful comparative selection of the available methods remains paramount to draw a complete picture of the progress and organisation of these peculiar worksites. Goreme n° 4b is a rock-hewn church located on a ridge on the w...

Cultural Heritage Management Practices- in the Medieval Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia——Survival of the Heritages and the Legacies it Contains

Cultural Heritage Management Practices- in the Medieval Rock-Hewn Churches of Lalibela, Ethiopia——Survival of the Heritages and the Legacies it Contains