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<p>Ethiopia has numerous vibrant prehistoric rock art sites that showcase ancient paintings, engravings, and carvings on natural rock surfaces. The Subha Sa’esie and Tsa’eda Emba districts in Northeastern Tigrai, Ethiopia, have some of the highest concentrations of rock art sites in the region. However, these invaluable cultural assets are vulnerable to deterioration due to various natural and anthropogenic factors. Weathering and disintegration of the rock substrate, loss of pictorial details, blurring, fading, flaking off, erasure, and disfiguration of paintings, distortion of images, and dissolution of pigments are common forms of deterioration. A thorough assessment of the rock mass properties of the rock art sites proved to be crucial to determine the factors that cause deterioration of the artworks and to propose effective protection and mitigation measures against the threats. This study evaluated the rock mass properties of eight rock art sites in northeastern Tigrai, using standard rock mass classification schemes: Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Quality Index (Q), Geological Strength Index (GSI), and Continuous Slope Mass Rating (CSMR). The eight sites were selected based on their high archaeological and historical significance, as well as the level of visible damage on them. The findings revealed that the rock masses hosting the rock art sites have fair to good rock quality, weak to medium strength, and partially stable to stable slopes. Structural discontinuities, water inflow, infiltration, seepage, and weathering are the major factors contributing to the deterioration of the rock substrates and the artworks. Long-term preservation of the rock art sites can be ensured by implementing effective protective measures, including the installation of light-weight shelters, managing and controlling water inflow, stabilization and reinforcement of structural discontinuities based on detailed structural assessments, and establishing monitoring systems. Evidence-based conservation, restoration, and preservation guidelines should also be established and implemented to safeguard these precious cultural assets for future generations.</p>

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Geotechnical Evaluation of Rock Art Sites in Northeastern Tigrai, Ethiopia: Informing Conservation Strategies for Fragile Heritage

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月29日

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  • Misgan Molla,
  • Amanuel Abrha,
  • Yowhans Birhanu,
  • Mulugeta Alene,
  • Gebremedhin Berhane,
  • Hagos Gebremariam,
  • Hayelom Mengesha,
  • Angesom Resom,
  • Welday Gebrehiwot,
  • Agazi Negash,
  • Asfawossen Asrat

摘要

Ethiopia has numerous vibrant prehistoric rock art sites that showcase ancient paintings, engravings, and carvings on natural rock surfaces. The Subha Sa’esie and Tsa’eda Emba districts in Northeastern Tigrai, Ethiopia, have some of the highest concentrations of rock art sites in the region. However, these invaluable cultural assets are vulnerable to deterioration due to various natural and anthropogenic factors. Weathering and disintegration of the rock substrate, loss of pictorial details, blurring, fading, flaking off, erasure, and disfiguration of paintings, distortion of images, and dissolution of pigments are common forms of deterioration. A thorough assessment of the rock mass properties of the rock art sites proved to be crucial to determine the factors that cause deterioration of the artworks and to propose effective protection and mitigation measures against the threats. This study evaluated the rock mass properties of eight rock art sites in northeastern Tigrai, using standard rock mass classification schemes: Rock Mass Rating (RMR), Quality Index (Q), Geological Strength Index (GSI), and Continuous Slope Mass Rating (CSMR). The eight sites were selected based on their high archaeological and historical significance, as well as the level of visible damage on them. The findings revealed that the rock masses hosting the rock art sites have fair to good rock quality, weak to medium strength, and partially stable to stable slopes. Structural discontinuities, water inflow, infiltration, seepage, and weathering are the major factors contributing to the deterioration of the rock substrates and the artworks. Long-term preservation of the rock art sites can be ensured by implementing effective protective measures, including the installation of light-weight shelters, managing and controlling water inflow, stabilization and reinforcement of structural discontinuities based on detailed structural assessments, and establishing monitoring systems. Evidence-based conservation, restoration, and preservation guidelines should also be established and implemented to safeguard these precious cultural assets for future generations.