The chronology of Aksum (Tigrai, Ethiopia): a view from Bieta Giyorgis

Archaeological research at Bieta Giyorgis, northwest of Aksum (Ethiopia), has established a detailed five-phase chronological sequence for the development of the ancient capital from 360 BC to AD 800/850. The study identified distinct phases—Proto-Aksumite, Early Aksumite, Classic Aksumite, Middle Aksumite, and Late Aksumite—based on radiocarbon dating and stratified archaeological contexts. This refined chronology challenges previous models by providing precise dating for key transitions in Aksum's history, offering new insights into its political, economic, and cultural evolution during the Axumite Kingdom's peak and decline.

Bard, K. A., Fattovich, R., Manzo, A., & Perlingieri, C. (2014). The chronology of Aksum (Tigrai, Ethiopia): a view from Bieta Giyorgis. Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa, 49(3), 285–316. https://doi.org/10.1080/0067270x.2014.943484