Matara, Eritrea
Ruins in Matara Eritrea The archaeological site already has yielded evidence of several levels of habitation, including at least two different major cities, covering more than 1000 years. The topmost layers are associated with the Aksumite Empire and date from the fourth to the eighth centuries. This city was allied with or part of the powerful trading empire centered in the capital, Aksum, to the southwest | |
Matara Shown within Eritrea | |
| Location | Debub Region, Eritrea |
|---|---|
| Region | Horn of Africa |
| Coordinates | 14°40′29″N 39°25′29″E / 14.674722°N 39.424722°E |
| Type | Settlement |
| Part of | Dʿmt, Aksum |
| History | |
| Founded | Approximately fifth millennium BC |
Metera (መጠራ, 𐩣𐩷𐩧), also known as Balaw Kalaw, is a small town and important archeological site located in the Debub Region of Eritrea.
Situated a few kilometers south of Senafe (ሰንዓፈ), it was a major city in the Dʿmt (𐩵𐩲𐩣𐩩) and Aksumite kingdoms. The town has the oldest example of Ge’ez, which is a pre-Aksumite Obelisk, Hawulti (monument). Since Eritrean independence, the National Museum of Eritrea has petitioned the Ethiopian government to return artifacts removed from the site. However, the efforts have thus far been rebuffed.