The Stelae of the Southern Ethiopia

An estimated of more than 10,000 stelae (obelisk) are scattered across the southern part of Ethiopia, extending in a rough belt from Tiya southeast to the vicinity of Borena. Little is known about the origin of these stelae or the societies that erected them, local tradition is dated back the stelae to the 15th century. But according to Professor Roger Joussaume the only, are the phallic archeologist who took archeological excavation on the site indicate that the stelaes were erected centuries before around the 9th century,

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Approximately 50 stelae fields are known in the Gedio region, southern part of Ethiopia and two broad styles of stelaes are renowned, the older of these, probably dating to the 9th century are the Phallic stelae which are typically cylindrical in shape, and rounded at the top, with incisions the stelae appear to have marked graves, and the bodies beneath them were buried in a foetal position, the second style is Anthropomorphic stelaes believed to date to the 12 century are attributed to a different society from there precursor. These stelaes are generally flattened and are marked with symbolic human features, though in several instance they have a cylindrical shape, and were clearly modified from the existing phallic stelae. These are also marked greaves the society which erected them evidently buried lying flat instead of in a foetal position.

There are two major stelae fields in Gedeo namely TUTU FELA &TUTUTI, both of which lie with 45 minutes drive from Dilla the TUTUTI fields is made of almost exclusively of PHALLIC stelaes(male sex organ) whereas ANTHROPOMORPHIC (human face) stelaes dominating at TUTU FELA, during the investigation at tutu fela number of artifacts had been excavated Iron and copper bracelets and beads, chisels and shards of pottery-buried alongside the bodies in the graves below the stelaes.