The Aksumite site of Wakarida, Tigrai. First results of archaeological investigations (2011-2013)

International audienceThe archaeological site of Wakarida is situated in the north-eastern Tigrai (Ethiopia), about 70 km North of Wukro. The site has been established on a rocky outcrop, which overlooks a large valley surrounded by chain of mountains.After three field seasons of excavation and survey at Wakarida and its surroundings, few preliminary issues may be put forward:– geomorphologic analysis supports the idea of a controlled development of the region, since ancient times;– archaeological survey reinforces this idea, since ancient remains have been observed next to the site of Wakarida, part of them being earlier than the ones excavated at Wakarida;– excavations reinforce the idea of a build‐up area, dated back to the 3th‐6th century AD, the planning of which has to be better understood, but already indicates an important place.The question is why this kind of site has been developed in this remote territory. Abundant resources of the soil may be sufficient to explain such human settlements. Though, even if the region seems to have been first arranged for agricultural purpose, the site of Wakarida shows the setting up of a town, as small as it may be, which indicates the presence of a hierarchically structured population. The development of such a remote town may be connected to the rise of the kingdom of Aksum. Architecture refers in fact to similar monuments at Aksum and Matara dating back to the same period, even if commercial trails are not clearly identifiable; even if potteries do not seem to indicate any important trade