Matara, also known as Balaw Kalaw, is a small town and an important archaeological site in the Debub Region of Eritrea. Situated a few kilometers south of Senafe, the site has yielded evidence of several levels of habitation covering more than 1,000 years. The topmost layers are associated with the Aksumite Empire, dating from the fourth to the eighth centuries, and were part of a trade route running from Aksum to the port city of Adulis.
The site features the Hawulti, a pre-Aksumite or early Aksumite era obelisk. It represents the oldest example of Ge’ez. The ancient town served as a significant location during the Dʿmt and Aksumite kingdoms, with nearby Keskese located 8 kilometers to the north.
Since Eritrean independence, the National Museum of Eritrea has petitioned the Ethiopian government to return artifacts removed from the site. These efforts to recover the history of Matara have thus far been rebuffed by the Ethiopian government.
Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons
Written by Mutabor
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