Archaeology and Heritage Management
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Browsing Archaeology and Heritage Management by Author "Alemseged Beldados (PhD)"
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Item An Investigation of Archaeo-Faunal Collection from the Early Stone Age Site of Gadeb, South Central Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-01-01) Haregwin Belete; Alemseged Beldados (PhD)Abstract Despite the long history of archaeological research at Gadeb, no faunal studies have been conducted from this site. Thus, its context and the functional associations between the bone remains and Acheulean lithic artifacts is far from being understood. This presentation aims at addressing these critical issues through zooarchaeological methods. We examined taphonomic and taxonomic composition of the faunal assemblages from two excavation localities, i.e., Gadeb 2 and Gadeb 8. Both localities yielded diverse range of taxa including significant presence of water-dependent species such as Hippopotamidae among other ungulates. The overall taxonomic composition, however, suggests the presence of multiple micro-environments within the Gadeb area. Taphonomic results shows that despite the high abrasion of bone surfaces, the Gadeb faunal assemblage showed hominid induced marks indicated by the presence of cut and percussion marks. Furthermore, no carnivore specimen as well as carnivore-modified specimens were identified in the assemblage. Based on these, we conclude that hydraulic sorting and hominid activity as major accumulating agents. The study contributes to our understanding of ecological background, hominid behaviour and site formation of the Gadeb landscape during the Pleo-Pleistocene period.Item Ethnoarchaeological Study of Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants in Arid and Semi-Arid Areas: the Case of Moyale Woreda, Borana Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia(Addis Ababa University, 2024-12-01) Morketa Befikadu; Alemseged Beldados (PhD)The research focuses on the ethnoarchaeology of the wild edible and medicinal plants of Moyale Woreda, Borana Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. It includes identification and documentation of a variety of Indigenous and local botanical knowledge and material cultures linked with wild edible and medicinal plants. A comprehensive methodology was employed, including pre-field preparation, fieldwork with semi-structured interviews, and post-field analysis. Plant specimens were obtained on the spot and brought to the National Herbarium at Addis Ababa University for scientific identification. A total of 83 species of plants were collected. Out of which species of medicinal plants, including Senegalia nilotica, Senegalia tortilis, Actiniopteris radiata, Albuca abyssinica, and Caralluma apriogonium were identified in the study site. In addition, 43 wild plants that are edible, including Senegalia hockii, Grewia villosa, and Lenea rivae were documented. Reports on their use for construction, fuel, and other purposes was also recorded. Materials including pots, axes, wooden mortars and pestles, grinding stones, baskets, cups, pick-mattocks, hoes, knives, teapots, and wooden tools have been reported as being linked to wild edible and medicinal plants. The study further elucidates the challenges faced by these plants: habitat destruction, overexploitation, and climate change. Community-based conservation and further actions are recommended long-term use of these important plant resources for the benefit of local communities and towards biodiversity conservation. This ethnoarchaeological study, as a Middle-Range Theory, has helped to appreciate projections in human exploitation of food plants and medicinal plants in pre-historic times. The tools documented in this study can also give us insight into the types of material culture expected to be uncovered in archaeological excavations. Key words: "ethnoarchaeology," "wild edible plants," "medicinal plants," "Oromia," "biodiversity conservation," "indigenous knowledge." And “archaeological implication"