Matara - panoramic views

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Matara - Panoramic

& Aerial Views

Above left: view of one of the numerous striking stone outcrops or ambas near Senafe and Matara, taken from a vantage point on the road from Asmara just north of Senafe during harvest season. Above right: a panoramic view of the landscape south of Matara along the highway that runs from Asmara to the Ertrea-Tigray border leading to Adigrat and south through Ethiopia. Above center: one of several aerial photos I took of Matara on 30 March 1971, showing the entire excavation site and Gwal Saim.

Below are four panoramic composite views of the Matara site and surrounding landscape, taken during the late '60s and early '70s, as well as three aerial photos I took on 30 March 1971. Click on any of these images to view them at full scale. The first three panoramas are my photographs; the fourth was graciously provided by Michael Metras, a friend and fellow traveller whose superb photographs and research is most notably portrayed in his fine studies of Eritrea's railways as well as the now-defunct Italian-built aerial tramway that used to connect the port of Massawa with Asmara. Further information about Eritrean railways can be found at Eritrean Railway and Ropeway (Unofficial). QuickTime video clips of the same panorama of the site follow; they are also found in the Archaeological Evidence section along with details of many parts of the excavated city. The aerial views are displayed next to an archaeological plan of the site for comparison.

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(1) This panoramic composite was taken in the spring of 1969, shortly before the first season I spent participating in excavation at the site. Click the image to view it at full scale.

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(2) This panoramic composite was taken in the spring of 1969, shortly before the first season I spent participating in excavation at the site; near the right-hand edge of this pan can be seen the Matara hawulti standing beside the road, as well as its reflection in a pond of standing water beside the road. Click the image to view it at full scale.

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(3) This colored panoramic composite was photographed on 9 June 1970, at the start of the second season I spent participating in excavation at the site; near the right-hand edge of the pan can be seen the Matara hawulti standing beside the road. Click the image to view it at full scale.

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(4) This panoramic composite was taken and assembled by Mike Metras; near the right-hand edge of the pan can be seen the Matara hawulti standing beside the road, and reflected in a pond of standing water. Click the image to view it at full scale.

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(1) These video clips are parts of a pan across the entire site which I filmed from atop Gwal Saim on 28 June 1970, during the final season of excavation at the site by Francis Anfray's team. The pan was separated into these smaller parts both for ease of loading for those with slower modem connections, and due to a shortage of server space. When possible, I intend to make the entire pan available for those with broadband access capabilities. The first of the four sections shows the western part of the site, from Mat-A past Mat-E2 to Mat-E1. The second pans from Mat-B past Mat-A to the northeast corner of Mat-E2 The third zooms to the north and east to show Mat-F. The fourth pans westward from the hawulti across Mat-C and Mat-D to Mat-B Click here to view the archaeological plan of the site for comparison.

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(1) This aerial view of Matara was photographed on 30 March 1971. The view is to the southeast, with Amba Matara behind, and Gwal Saim on the right. Next to the aerial view is an archaeological plan of the site for comparison. Click either image to view it at full scale.

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(2) This aerial view of Matara was photographed on 30 March 1971. The view is to the west, with Amba Matara behind, and Gwal Saim on the upper left. Next to the aerial view is an archaeological plan of the site for comparison. Click either image to view it at full scale.

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(3) This aerial view of Matara was photographed on 30 March 1971. The view is to the northwest, with Amba Matara behind, and Gwal Saim on the lower left. Next to the aerial view is an archaeological plan of the site for comparison. Click either image to view it at full scale.

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