The interdisciplinary research team of archaeologists and geoarchaeologists from the A1 project have successfully continued their fieldwork at the Sodicho Rockshelter (SW Ethiopia) in November 2018. Once more, the archaeological excavations were directed by Dr. Ralf Vogelsang, Institute of Prehistoric Archaeology from Cologne. This year’s fieldwork focused on subsequent excavations of the lower cultural layers and sediment sampling for geoarchaeological lab analyses. Bulk sediment and tephra samples were obtained from the excavation profile for geochemical investigations as well as sediment monoliths for micromorphological observations. Moreover, several sediment layers were sampled for the measurement of Black Carbon, to be analysed by the colleagues of the E7 project.
Furthermore, two obsidian raw material sites were investigated with the help of local residents.
Except for challenging high rainfall at Mount Sodicho, the fieldwork was successful. The planned analyses will connect members from various research fields of the Collaborative Research Centre 806. New results from the Sodicho Rockshelter will be collected in the following months, inducing productive discussions for the whole CRC 806.
Text: Elena Hensel
Elena Hensel is a PhD-student in the A1-project. She is working with a selection of geoarchaeological analyses and on palaeoenvironmental reconstructions in souhtwest Ethiopia.
Hidden opening of the Sodicho Rockshelter (left) and micromorphological sampling at the excavation profile (both right). Photos: E. Hensel & T. Noack |