Oral history

I've been reaching back in the recesses of my brain to recall Sunday school lessons in order to better understand Ethiopian history. Or more accurately, Ethiopian oral tradition. Ethiopia was founded by Noah's son Cush, the Queen of Sheba (Ethiopia) had an affair with King Solomon, the Ark of the Covenant is kept here in Axum, King Basil (AKA Balthazaar) was one of the three wise men to visit Jesus, etc. Oral tradition also describes the rise and fall of empires here in Ethiopia, the feats of Kings and Queens, kindness, bravery, and above all religious devotion (although the subject changed from Judaism to Christianity to Islam over the past few thousand years).

Erica and I traveled back in time to Axum, an important city on the international scene from about 400 BC to 600 AD or so. Yesterday we toured tombs of kings (one complete with a coffin that's supposed to hold the remains of King Remhei), stelae fields (think the Washington Monument, but shorter and intricately carved), a palace thought to be home of the Queen of Sheba, a tablet from 400 BC which documents in three languages the exploits of a local King, baths, and churches.

Archeological excavation of Axum started in 1902 and has continued in bursts over the past century. They estimate that 5% of ancient sites have been explored so far, leaving much to be discovered by future Indiana Jones'es. Historians have learned a lot about Ethiopian history based on the technologies and treasures left behind. Some of the finds have reinforced traditional stories, although the majority of evidence would seem to contradict long held beliefs. For example, the palace thought to be home to the Queen of Sheba was actually constructed a few hundred years AD, long after her reign.

When I consider the richness of Ethiopian oral tradition and the important role it plays for the people here, I wonder if there is anything to gain from further application of science. I'm afraid that these fantastic stories will be exposed as just that - fantastic stories. And will the benefit be worth the cost?

Our guide yesterday provided an interesting perspective in response to a sceptical Belgian: "the oral history may be a man's creation, but science is also man's creation."