Geomorphology of the Archaeological Area of Aksum

Ferrari, Giovanni; Ciampalini, Rossano; Billi, Paolo; Migon, Piotr

Geomorphology of the Archaeological Area of Aksum

2015, World Geomorphological Landscapes

Abstract

Landforms and landscapes vary enormously across the Earth, from high mountains to endless plains. At a smaller scale, nature often surprises us by creating shapes which look improbable. Many physical landscapes are so immensely beautiful that they received the highest possible recognition-they hold the status of World Heritage Sites. Apart from often being immensely scenic, landscapes tell stories which not uncommonly can be traced back in time for tens of millions of years and include unique geological events such as meteorite impacts. In addition, many landscapes owe their appearance and harmony not solely to the natural forces. For centuries, and even millennia, they have been shaped by humans who have modified hillslopes, river courses and coastlines, and erected structures which often blend with the natural landforms to form inseparable entities. These landscapes are studied by geomorphology-'the science of scenery'-a part of Earth Sciences that focuses on landforms, their assemblages, surface and subsurface processes that moulded them in the past and that change them today. To show the importance of geomorphology in understanding the landscape, and to present the beauty and diversity of the geomorphological sceneries across the world, we have launched a book series World Geomorphological Landscapes. It aims to be a scientific library of monographs that present and explain physical landscapes, focusing on both representative and uniquely spectacular examples. Each book will contain details on geomorphology of a particular country or a geographically coherent region. This volume presents the impressive geomorphic legacy of Ethiopia which hosts many landscapes and landforms of global significance. Examples include the otherworldly Afar Depression with its sun-baked volcanoes, high-elevation basalt plateaus, the East African Rift valley with its splendid lakes, to name just a few. Ethiopia is also a country where geomorphology and people have remained in particularly close association since time immemorial. These relationships can be examined by referring to the pastas demonstrated by the chapter on geoarcheology of Aksum, but perhaps more importantly, with the reference to the present-day environmental problems arising from land use, soil erosion, water resources depletion and settlement growth. A number of chapters in this book remind us that geomorphological landscapes are not only beautiful; they are also very fragile if used improperly. The World Geomorphological Landscapes series is produced under the scientific patronage of the International Association of Geomorphologists (IAG)-a society that brings together geomorphologists from all around the world. The IAG was established in 1989 and is an independent scientific association affiliated with the International Geographical Union (IGU) and the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS). Among its main aims are to promote geomorphology and to foster dissemination of geomorphological knowledge. I believe that this lavishly illustrated series, which keeps to the scientific rigour, is the most appropriate means to fulfil these aims and to serve the geoscientific community. To this end, my great thanks go to Prof. Paolo Billi, a person long involved in geomorphological research in Ethiopia, for agreeing to coordinate this timely volume in the series. I am also very grateful to all individual authors who accepted invitations to contribute and, often, delivered stories which contained original, not yet published research.

Geomorphology, a part of Earth Sciences, is the scientific study of landforms, their assemblages, and processes that molded them in the past and that change them today. Geomorphologists study shapes of landforms and regularities of their spatial distribution, decipher their origin and evolution, and try to establish their ages. Geomorphology is also a science of considerable practical importance since many geomorphic processes occur so suddenly and unexpectedly and with such a force that they pose significant hazards to human populations. But geomorphology has also been named "the Science of Scenery." And the natural scenery, which is essentially a combination of landforms of different sizes, shapes, origins, and ages, can be captivating. You do not need to be a geomorphologist to marvel at the Grand Canyon of Colorado, the fjords of Norway, or the lofty peaks of the Himalayas, to name just a few great landscapes on Earth. However, where an untrained eye sees mainly the beauty of a physical landscape, geomorphologists go a step further, trying to answer how and why such a natural beauty has come into being. Many of the great landscapes are unique by global standards and a question inevitably arises what is the reason for this uniqueness. What are the fundamental controls on the evolution of landscape? Tectonics, rocks, changing climates, or humans? In short, each geomorphological landscape tells a story and unravels pages from the history of the Earth. Yet, deciphering a complete story is not always easy and many striking landscapes still remain somewhat mysterious. This book aims to tell some of these stories, hidden behind the marvelous sceneries. It does so in the hope that better scientific understanding will not deprive the world's iconic landscapes of their magic, but may help us to appreciate their beauty even more than before. It is a joint endeavor of nearly 50 geomorphologists from more than 20 countries, who for many years have researched some of the most fascinating sceneries on Earth and are willing to share their knowledge. The scientific patronage for the book is provided by the International Association of Geomorphologists. Among its statutory aims are promotion of geomorphology and fostering international cooperation, and this is precisely the idea of the presented volume. The International Association of Geomorphologists, which now has more than 60 member states, was founded 20 years ago, in 1989, and so with this book we also salute its 20th anniversary and its overall success. Altogether, there are 36 individual stories told. Selecting the landscapes to write about was an arduous task and I am fully aware of themes which some readers may miss. However, each continent is present, and the most splendid sceneries have their chapters. It was intended to present landscapes of different origin, so that the reader can learn about the complexity of processes behind the sceneries and discover that the

Frumkin, A. and Shtober-Zisu, N., eds., 2024. Landscapes and Landforms of Israel. Cham: Springer International Publishing, 388 pp. Preface Israel is a land of contrasts, where the ancient and the modern coexist. From the desert to the mountains, the landscapes of Israel are diverse and spectacular, celebrating natural beauty and cultural richness. Climate variability and geologic events are the foundation of present and past geomorphological evolution, responsible for most morphogenetic processes and landforms currently observed in Israel—fluvial, coastal, aeolian, karstic, volcanic, or gravitational. The natural geomorphological processes in Israel have created highly scenic and diverse landscapes; by their side, anthropic landscapes of enormous cultural value are embedded as a heritage of humanity. These landscapes are the background for much of the history and myths of the main religions of the Western world. A wide range of these landscapes is described in this volume, which contains over twenty examples, representative of all natural and human morphogenetic environments (Fig. 1). This book is the result of a joint venture established among Israeli geomorphologists, which has also included the participation of valuable experts from other disciplines. To our knowledge, this is the first attempt to put together such a collection of papers on the landscapes and landforms of Israel. More than 25 authors from five universities and three research centres have contributed to the book. Furthermore, each chapter has undergone three rounds of thorough peer review before being accepted for publication. This book, therefore, offers a collection of contributions that can be valuable to a wide readership, ranging from professionals who study the landscapes of Israel, students, teachers, tour guides, tourists, or anyone in the international public who wants to expand their knowledge and learn about this country from first-class researchers. We are very grateful to Piotr Migoń, Series Editor, for having invited us to join the important editorial project of the “World Geomorphological Landscapes” and for his precious suggestions, constant availability, and continuous support. We would like to acknowledge Dr. Robert K. Doe, Editorial Director and the assistance of the Springer book Project Coordinators who took care of this book with remarkable dedication and patience, in particular Ms. Banu Dhayalan who finalized the volume production. Last but not least, our special thanks go to the individual authors for the enthusiasm with which they responded to our invitation and for the outstanding efforts made for the success of this valuable editorial initiative.

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