Archaeological survey around Igre Hariba (Ethiopia, Tigray): Fieldwork Preliminary Report, 8-15 March 2018

The main objective of the mission was to survey the area around the village of Igre Hariba (Tigray region, Kwiha Woreda) in order to find new evidence of ancient Muslim communities in Northern Ethiopia.The area was chosen according to epigraphic evidence, Arabic inscriptions being major sources for the history of early Islam in Ethiopia. Arabic inscriptions have been found so far in four distinct locations in Ethiopia: Eastern Tigray, Tchertcher, South Amhara and Ifat.Presence of Arabic Inscriptions in Eastern Tigray was first witnessed by the English travellerNathaniel Pearce in the beginning of the 19th century around Igre Hariba1 (also Egär Hariba, Wegär Hariba, Wäger Hariba, Eger Hariba, Uogher Hariba, Wober Hariba - እገር፡ሓሪባ)