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OT: Settling the issues on "Ethio-Sabean" connections, "Habashat", and the related
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Clyde Winters: [QB] It is very important to note that the state building in Ethiopia had its roots in Africa, not Yemen. Fattovich notes that: [i] A sedentary people, apparently with Afro-Arabian cultural traditions, was settled on the plateau around Asmara (Eritrea) in the late second millennium BC (the ‘Ona Group A’ with red pottery, c. 1500–1000 BC). They were in contact with the Jebel Mokram people of the western lowlands and the coastal ones along the Red Sea. Some finds from ‘Ona Group A’ sites suggest that this population was directly in contact with Egypt through the Red Sea maritime route. The same evidence, recording some chiefs of Punt, might suggest that a complex society arose on the eastern plateau in the mid-second millennium BC (Fig. 5; Tringali 1979; Tringali 1981; Fattovich 1988; Fattovich 1993). Peoples with similar pottery were living along the Eritrean and south Arabian coast of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden in the mid-second millennium BC (the ‘Tihama Cultural Complex’, c. 1500–1200 BC). Evidence for this has been recorded at Adulis near the Gulf of Zula in Eritrea, Sihi in the Saudi Tihama, Wadi Urq’ in the Yemeni Tihama, and Subr near Aden. The pottery from these sites shows some similarities to that from the Kerma and ‘C-Group’ of the middle Nile valley. The lithic industry is similar to that of the ‘Gash Group’ at Kassala, pointing to a possible early influence from the African hinterland (Fig. 5; Paribeni 1907; Doe 1963, Doe 1971; Zarins, Al-Jawarad Murad & Al-Yish 1981; Zarins & Al-Badr 1986; Tosi 1986; Tosi 1987). Comparable pottery occurs in the lower strata at Matara on the eastern Tigrean plateau, suggesting that this region too was included in the area of cultural influence of the Tihama complex (see Anfray 1966; Fattovich 1980). In the first millennium BC, cattle herders were moving on the Tigrean plateau in Eritrea and eastern Tigray. They are identified by rock pictures of cattle in Ethio-Arabian, seminaturalistic, and very schematic styles. Some groups practiced milking and a rock picture of ploughing at Amba Focada rock shelter (eastern Tigray) might suggest that the ‘plough and cereal complex’ was already established on the plateau (Graziosi 1941; Conti Rossini 1948; Graziosi 1964a; Graziosi 1964b; Cervicek 1979). By the first millennium BC, also the Atbara and Gash alluvial plains in the western lowlands were occupied by cattle herders, practicing some cultivation of cereals (the ‘Hagiz Group’, c. 500 BC–AD 300/400) (Fattovich, Marks & Ali 1984; Marks & Sadr 1988; Fattovich, Sadr & Vitagliano 1988–89; Fattovich 1990b; Fattovich 1991b; Sadr 1991). The classical sources, however, suggest that in the Hellenistic times the hinterland regions towards the plateau were inhabited by peoples who hunted large savanna mammals, particularly elephants (Conti Rossini 1928; Fattovich 1987a; Fattovich 1990b). [/i] Researchers claim a Yemeni origin for the Ethiopian civilizations without any support what so ever for example Fattovich noted that: [QUOTE] During the first millennium BC,[b] a state with Sabean characteristics appeared on the plateau in Tigray and Eritrea. It is archaeologically identified by the so-called pre-Aksumite culture (c. 1000/900 BC–100 BC/AD 100). This state is recorded in the inscriptions with the name of ‘Kingdom of Da’amat’. It most likely relied on the ‘plough and cereal complex’. The ruins of a stone dam, possibly going back to this period, at Safra in the Kohaito region (central Eritrea) suggest that artificial irrigation also was practiced (Anfray 1967; Anfray 1968; Fattovich 1977a; Fattovich 1977b; Fattovich 1980; de Contenson 1981; Fattovich 1988; Anfray 1990; Fattovich 1990c).[/b] On linguistic, epigraphic and monumental evidence, the origins of this state have been usually ascribed to a south Arabian – more specifically Sabean – colonization of the plateau in the first half of the first millennium BC (see Conti Rossini 1928; von Wissmann 1975; Ricci 1984). At present, it seems that the kingdom originated from the contacts between an indigenous chiefdom and the southern Arabians, who deeply affected the local cultural pattern (Drewes 1962; Anfray 1968; Schneider 1976; Fattovich 1977b; Fattovich 1980; Fattovich 1990c). So far, the pre-Aksumite culture has been divided into three main phases of development (Fattovich 1977b; Fattovich 1980; Fattovich 1990c): 1 The Early pre-Aksumite Phase (c. 1000–800/700 BC). In this phase, the pre-Aksumite cultural area was apparently divided into two regions: (a) central Eritrea and northern Tigray and (b) western Tigray. They probably reflected a cultural division of the plateau going back to late prehistoric times (see Fattovich 1988). It is possible that chiefdoms already existed (Schneider 1976), but no safe archaeological evidence of them is yet available. The people of western Tigray who were definitely in contact with the southern Arabians worked iron, as we can infer from slag found at Gobedra rock shelter near Aksum (see Phillipson 1977; Fattovich 1980; Fattovich 1990c). The late ‘Jebel Mokram Group’ people in the lowlands were in contact with those of western Tigray (Fig. 5). 2 The Middle pre-Aksumite Phase (c. 700/600–300 BC). The kingdom of Da’amat appeared in this phase. Its territory stretched from western Tigray to central Eritrea. Most likely, the capital was located at Yeha (western Tigray) and monumental and epigraphical evidence stresses a direct link with the kingdom of Saba in southern Arabia. Some rock inscriptions recorded in Eritrea point to contacts with other south Arabian peoples and there were also contacts with the Nubian kingdom of Kush, the Achemenian Empire, and the Greek world. [/QUOTE]This statement is contradictory. On the one hand Fattovich makes it clear that Sabaean inscriptions dating back to the Di'amat Kingdom were first found in Ethiopia as well as the earliest dam. Yet, in the next breath the author claims these elements came from Yemen, yet Fattovich does not provide any archaeological sites from Yemen dating back to this period which supports his bold claim. Lets not remember that the Yemeni dam and inscriptions date to the 4th century BC, 600 years after similar monuments appeared in Ethiopia. Given the evidence, I am making only one claim: archaeological evidence indicate that the Oldest Sabaean inscriptions are found in Ethiopia, along with monumental architecture. This means only one thing: Sabaean writing was invented by the Ethiopians who took the writing to Yemen, no matter what some experts claim. The archaeology does not indicate a higher civilization in Yemen than in Ethiopia. All the archaeological data indicate that Ethiopian civilizations were homegrown and taken to Yemen by the ancient Ethiopians who probably founded Saba or Sheba. MysterySolver [QUOTE] An edited version of the above, since that function amongst others cease to exist: quote:Originally posted by Clyde Winters: The parameter(s) I use is that where ever a cultural tradition first occurs,temporally , it is that place where the cultural complex originated. Would this be a single tradition or multiple? If multiple, please lay out the "full range" of the criterea used; If single, how can you claim that a "complex" culture is of so and so origin based on a single "tradition", while ignoring other traditions that may or may not have been imported? Moreover: In other for you to claim that a cultural complex at a certain location is not of in situ origin, you'd have to prove that there was no cultural complex there to begin? Can you show us how your claim about the "Tihama" complex fits into this criterea. quote:Clyde: 3) oldest evidence of writing existing in Ethiopia (Drewes 1962), not Yemen. What was this "script" called and what date has specifically been attributed to this script, in the exact words of the cited author; not to mention why he said so? Present the 'specifics' contained in this 'evidence' in the words of the author you attribute it to. I have cited several others, who talk about the "Epigraphic South Arabian" script in both south Arabia and in the African horn, spanning more or less the same time era. Although, I don't have the specifics, Munro-Hay mentioned "new" discoveries in Yemen, involving "paleography", that may push date-approximations of the Ethio-Sabean contact in pre-Aksume complex back to ca. 800th cen. or so. I suspect this includes the south Arabian scripts that one website attributed to Minean dialect. Now, Epigraphic "South Arabian" is not something that implies "Ethiopic" script; similarily "Sabean" script as you keep referring to it, does not imply "Ethiopic". You also ignore the fact that the "Epigraphic South Arabian" scripts found in Ethiopia, are written both in pure Sabean, and some unidentified, presumably local Ethiopic language. Why is that? Have you identified some Ethiopic language in "Sabean/ESA" script in South Arabia? If not, Why? It would also be interesting how you address Daniels' notes on those early scripts found. quote:Clyde: Put these elements together we have to acknowledge that the Sabaeans and their writing probably originated in Ethiopia not Yemen. Nobody but you, claims that Sabeans are local Pre-Aksumites, rather than South Arabians, who had contact with the locals of the Pre-Aksumite complex in early first Millenium B.C. Next, you'll tell us that Saba was in Ethiopia, right? [/QUOTE] [/QB][/QUOTE]
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