#African archaeology

• Aksum — A proper noun designating a monumental historical city located in northern Ethiopia (Tigray province), the former legendary capital of the powerful Aksumite Kingdom that dominated trade routes between the Roman Empire and India between the 1st and 8th centuries AD; by extension, the early Christian civilization developed in this space, considered one of the major pillars of late antiquity. This globally significant archaeological hub is structurally renowned for its giant monolithic obelisks (stelae), underground palaces, and as the sacred location where, according to the tradition of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, the Ark of the Covenant is preserved.