Articles | Volume 68, issue 2
https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-201-2019
https://doi.org/10.5194/egqsj-68-201-2019
Research article
 | 
17 Oct 2019
Research article |  | 17 Oct 2019

Combining geomorphological–hydrological analyses and the location of settlement and raw material sites – a case study on understanding prehistoric human settlement activity in the southwestern Ethiopian Highlands

Elena A. Hensel, Oliver Bödeker, Olaf Bubenzer, and Ralf Vogelsang

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Cited articles

Abbate, E., Bruni, P., and Sagri, M.: Geology of Ethiopia: a review and geomorphological perspectives, in: Landscapes and Landforms of Ethiopia, edited by: Billi, P., Springer, Dordrecht, the Netherlands, 33–64, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-017-8026-1_2, 2015. 
Basell, L. S.: Middle Stone Age (MSA) site distributions in eastern Africa and their relationship to Quaternary environmental change, refugia and the evolution of Homo sapiens, Quaternary Sci. Rev., 27, 2484–2498, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2008.09.010, 2008. 
Benito-Calvo, A., De la Torre, I., Mora, R., Tibebu, D., Morán, N., and Martínez-Moreno, J.: Geoarchaeological potential of the western bank of the Bilate River (Ethiopia), Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Seria Geographie, XVII, 99–104, 2007. 
Berhanu, B., Melesse, A. M., and Seleshi, Y.: GIS-based hydrological zones and soil geo-database of Ethiopia, CATENA, 104, 21–31, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catena.2012.12.007, 2013. 
Billi, P. and Dramis, F.: Geomorphological investigations on gully erosion in the Rift Valley and the northern highlands of Ethiopia, CATENA, 50, 353–368, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0341-8162(02)00131-5, 2003. 
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Short summary
This study combines geomorphological–hydrological analyses with the distribution of archaeological sites and obsidian raw material outcrops within the catchment of the Bisare River, Mt Damota, and Mt Sodicho (southwestern Ethiopian Highlands). The current highly dynamic hydrological system, strong recent sediment erosion, and increased human impact lead to land degradation, resulting in exposure of lithic raw material outcrops and destruction of archaeological material.