Lithic Artefacts as a Source of Cultural, Social and Economic information:

The evidence from Aksum, Ethiopia

Laurel Phillipson
11 Brooklyn
Threshfield Bd23 5ER
England
dw.l.phillipson@btinternet.com

September 2008


Every stone tool reflects the economy within which it was produced and the processes
by which it was shaped. Without going into specific details, which will soon be
published (L. Phillipson, in press), this paper demonstrates that the detailed analysis
of lithic artefacts contributes as much to the understanding of cultural development as
do studies of ancient ceramics, architecture or any other material evidence, and that
the systematic recovery and interpretation of knapped stone artefacts should be given
equal priority as a significant aspect of all field research from the Prehistoric to the
Post-Aksumite in the area with which we are concerned. [Time periods referred to are
as defined by Professor R. Fattovich: Pre-Aksumite circa 700 to 400 BC; Proto-
Aksumite to 150 BC; Early Aksumite to AD 150; Classic Aksumite to circa AD 450;
Middle Aksumite to AD 550; Late Aksumite to AD 700.]


More than a decade of research into the lithic industries of Aksum and its near
hinterland has progressed from the straightforward recovery and recording of
excavated and surface-collected artefacts to the demonstration that these were a
significant and varied component of all periods of Aksumite material culture, and to
an understanding of their economic and social significance within that culture. It is
now possible to demonstrate chronological changes in the forms of some lithic tools
1
and in the composition of excavated assemblages and surface collections, in response
to the developing needs of Aksums monetised, urban economy. It is also possible to
identify the uses to which some of the lithic tools were applied and the social and
economic patterns involved in their production and use.

Three distinct lithic traditions are identified as having been present during the Pre-
Aksumite period. Of these, the dominant industry at Aksum is morphologically and
technologically related to and derived from earlier autochthonous aceramic and
ceramic mode 5 industries. This microlithic Pre-Aksumite industry developed in an
unbroken sequence throughout the time from the Pre-Aksumite to its demise at the
end of the Late Aksumite or early in the Post Aksumite period. No such continuity is
demonstrable for a surprisingly archaic looking macrolithic Pre-Aksumite industry
which comprises the only knapped lithics recovered from Hwalti, south of Aksum,
and from a few minor occurrences closer to Aksum. Some influence from a third local
Pre-Aksumite industry may perhaps be seen in the lithics of the Proto-Aksumite
period. The presence in the same area of these very different Pre-Aksumite lithic
industries, one of which appears to have been an entirely local development and
another intrusive, has a significant bearing on our understanding of Pre-Aksumite
settlement patterns and the rise of the Aksumite civilisation.

Development of Aksumite lithic technology is shown to have progressed from a
generalist activity in the Pre-, Proto- and Early Aksumite periods, to a restricted,
specialist skill by the beginning of the Late Aksumite, with various patterns of tool
production and use at various types of sites, before disappearing by the start of the
Post-Aksumite period. We thus have for Aksum and its environs the outlines of of a
complete record of the technical and cultural development of a significant stone tool
producing tradition.

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REFERENCES

Fattovich, R., K. A. Bard, L. Petrassi & V. Pisano, 2000. The Aksum Archaeological
Area: a preliminary assessment. Napoli: Istituto Universitario Orientale.
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3

Fattovich, R., Tekle H., L. Phillipson & L. Sernicola 2006. Ethiopian Cultural
Heritage Project, Aksum Branch, Site Planning and Conservation Component,
Archaeological Survey: Report of Activity, March May 2006 and Aksum World
Heritage Site Management Plan. The World Bank and Federal Democratic Republic
of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa & Firenze: Hydea.

Phillipson, D. W. et al 2000. Archaeology at Aksum, Ethiopia, 1993-7. London: The
British Institute in Eastern Africa & the Society of Antiquaries of London.

Phillipson, L. 2000a. Aksumite Lithic Industries. African Archaeological Review
17:49-63.

2000b. A Functional Consideration of Gudit Scrapers from Aksum, Ethiopia.
in L. Krzyaniak et al (eds) Recent Research on the Stone Age of Northeastern Africa:
259-76. Poznan: Muzeum Archeolgiczne w Poznaniu.

2000c. The Prehistoric Antecedents of Aksum; Lithics from the D Site at
Kidane Mehret; Lithics from the K site in Maleke Aksum; Lithic Industries; Surface
Collections of Aksumite Lithics; and passim in D. W. Phillipson et al 2000.

2004. Lithic Tools: a hitherto unrecognised component of Aksumite material
culture. in E. A. Walker, F. Wenban-Sm ith & F. Healey (eds) Lithics in Action: 254-
69. Oxford: Lithic Studies Society & Oxbow.

Phillipson, L. & F. Sulas 2005. Cultural Continuity in Aksumite Lithic Tool
Production, the evidence from Mai Agam. Azania 40:1-18.

Phillipson, L. in press. Using Stone Tools: the evidence from Aksum, Ethiopia.
Oxford: BAR, Archaeopress.