Recent evidence of animal exploitation in the Axumite epoch, 1st-5th centuries AD.
This study reports evidence of animal exploitation during the Axumite era based on a survey of architectural features, rock art and artefacts recovered from the archaeological site at Axum, northern Ethiopia. Animals and agricultural tools were identified from materials not previously examined. Pottery, rock art and animal remains revealed a range of zoological species. Agricultural implements and sacrificial vessels also provided indirect evidence of animal exploitation. It is concluded that, in addition to plough-based agriculture, the hunting of large wild animals, such as elephants and lions, and the exploitation of domestic cattle, small ruminants and poultry were part of the Axumite subsistence regime. Although it is difficult to reconstruct an overall subsistence pattern based on this study alone, the physical and biological evidence suggests that the Axumites practised combined cultivation and animal herding. Further investigation is required to study the types and breeds of animals and their distribution in time and space.
Department of Animal Science, Mekelle University, PO Box 231, Mekelle, Ethiopia. mekelle.university@telecom.net.et
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D000383:Agriculture / Q000266:history*; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000266:history*; D000818:Animals; D000829:Animals, Domestic; D001106:Archaeology; D002417:Cattle; D005002:Ethiopia; D006041:Goats; D049690:History, Ancient; D006801:Humans; D011200:Poultry; D012756:Sheep