UNESCO Ancient Civilizations of Africa (Editor G. Mokhtar)

Ancient Civilizations of Africa
potsherds at Haoulti, but instead of being in the form of stamp-impressions
they are in relief. Outside Ethiopia, only a few similar bronze objects are
known to us in south Arabia.
When we consider the high technical level revealed by these objects, it
seems plausible to attribute to the Ethiopian bronze-workers of this intermediary
stage - as F. Anfray suggests - other works such as a miniature
pair of bull's hooves found near the Haoulti sanctuaries, and the powerful
figurine of a bull from Mahabere Dyogwe, 74 which would appear to afford
further evidence of the cult of Almaqah. F. Anfray judiciously deduces
that the figures of humped cattle, such as those found at Addi Galamo,
Matara and Zeban Kutur, are no earlier than the Aksumite period; at Addi
Galamo, they are probably contemporary with the three-footed alabaster
altars and the bronze sceptre of Gadar.
Gold is used for ornaments such as fingerrings at Yeha and Haoulti,
ear-rings, beads and coiled wire at Haoulti. Countless little pieces of necklaces
of various colours, made of glass paste or frit, are found on all the
sites of this period, and pieces made of stone are also found at Sabea and
Matara.
Other stone objects include small sandstone mortars or incense burners,
disc-shaped or rectangular, found at Yeha, Matara and Haoulti, a seal found
at Sabea, an alabaster vase and an incised ring made of serpentine found
at Yeha.
Lastly, the deposit at Haoulti contained two earthenware amulets
representing a Ptah-patec and a Hathoric head, while in the lower levels
at Matara a cornelian amulet representing a Harpocrat was found. Among
the finds at Addi Galamo were four bronze vessels, including a bowl
decorated with finely engraved lotus flowers and frogs, and a fragment of a
vase with an embossed line of cattle. This group of objects is particularly
interesting as they are of Meroitic origin and provide evidence of relations
between ancient Ethiopia and the Nile valley. 75
Some Meroitic influence can also be seen in the pottery of this period,
which is highly characteristic. 76 There is an elegance and variety of form
that is not found again in Ethiopia. The clay is usually micaceous, black
or red in colour, and the surfaces are often glazed. The geometrical designs
with which they are decorated are usually incised, but are sometimes
applied with red or white paint. Incised decorations filledin with clay,
usually white but sometines blue or red, are also found. As well as the
74. H. de Contenson, 1961, pp. 21-2, PL XXII; F. Anfray, 1967, pp. 44-6.
75. H. de Contenson, 1963, p. 48, PL XLIX, b, c; L. P. Kirwan, i960, p. 172; J. Leclant,
1961, p. 392; J. Leclant, 1962, pp. 295-8, Plates IX-X.
76. R. Paribeni, pp. 446-51; J. Leclant and A. Miquel, 1959, pp. 109, 114, Plates
LI-LXIII; H. de Contenson, 1963, pp. 44,49-50, Plates XLI, LIII, b, LX; F. Anfray, 1963,
pp. 190-1, Plates CXXVIII-CXLV; F. Anfray, 1968, pp. 13-15, Plates XLVII-L, Figs 1,2,
II; F. Anfray, 1967, p. 42, Plates XXX-XXXIX, XL11.
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