The 'Ella' stone platforms in Mursiland, Lower Omo Valley, south-western Ethiopia

Research in the Lower Omo Valley, Ethiopia, reveals the presence of 'Ella' stone platforms, challenging assumptions about the minimal architecture of transhumant groups. These structures suggest a more permanent and substantial past than previously thought, prompting further investigation into their significance within Mursi landscape practices. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach, correlating oral histories with archaeological evidence to explore the construction of memory and place-making among the Mursi ethnic group. Oral narratives indicate aggressive colonization around 200 years ago, while fluid social boundaries characterize earlier inhabitants. This research bridges gaps in our understanding of later periods in the region's archaeology, offering insights into cultural continuity and landscape interaction.

Clack, T., & Brittain, M. (2010). The ‘Ella’ stone platforms in Mursiland, Lower Omo Valley, south-western Ethiopia. Antiquity Project Gallery, 2002–2016, 84(323), 1–5. https://doi.org/10.15184/s2978855200902853