Northern Ethiopia - Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somaliland - page 196

Although you can see the monuments on your own, an official guide (Birr250 per day)
adds greatly to the experience. All are trained and many are history students, so you'll get
much more out of your visit. The Aksum Guide Association office is next to the Northern
Stelae Field entrance. Rufael Fitsum ( 0913-125540; [e-mail]) , Tedros
Girmay ( 0910-081534) and Solomon Belay ( 0914-743768) are all recommen-
ded. Rufael can also guide you to the rock-hewn churches of Tigray.
If you can get your hands on Stuart Munro-Hay's Ethiopia: The Unknown Land you'll
find an excellent compendium to Aksum's history, archaeology and major sites and monu-
ments.

Aksumite Stelae
Ancient Aksum obelisks (stelae) pepper the area, and whether you're looking down on a
small specimen or staring up at a grand tower, you'll be duly bowled over. The closer you
get the more amazing they are. See the boxed text, Click here , for the lowdown.

MONUMENTS

Northern Stelae Field Tombs
Despite the dizzying grandeur of the numerous rock needles reaching for the stars, it's
what's under your feet here that's most important. Amazingly, about 90% of the field
hasn't yet been dug, so no matter where you walk, there's a good chance there's an undis-
covered tomb with untold treasures under your feet. This is part of Aksum's appeal: the
thought that fascinating finds and secrets lurk in the depths.
All of the tombs excavated to date had been pillaged by robbers, so very little is known
about Aksumite burial customs or the identities of those buried.

HISTORIC SITE