Tiya

Infobox World Heritage Site
WHS = Tiya


State Party = ETH
Type = Cultural
Criteria = i, iv
ID = 12
Region = Africa
Year = 1980
Session = 4th
Link = http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/12: For|the Queen of Amenhotep III|Tiye

Tiya is a town in southern Ethiopia. Located in the Gurage Zone of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region south of Addis Ababa, the town has a latitude and longitude of coord|8|26|N|38|37|E.

Based on figures from the Central Statistical Agency in 2005, Tiya has an estimated total population of 3,363 of whom 1,615 were males and 1,748 were females. [ [http://www.csa.gov.et/text_files/2005_national_statistics.htm CSA 2005 National Statistics] , Table B.4] The 1994 national census reported this town had a total population of 1,856 of whom 894 were males and 962 were females. Tiya is one of three towns in Soddo woreda.

Tiya is best known for its adjacent archeological site, which is distinguished by 36 standing stones or stelae, "32 of which are engraved with enigmatic symbols, notably swords," marking a large, prehistoric burial complex. [Matt Philips and Jean-Bernard Carillet, "Ethiopia and Eritrea", third edition (n.p.: Lonely Planet, 2006), p. 171] A German ethnographic expedition had visited the site in April 1935, and had found at one hour's journey to the south of the caravan camp the stone monoliths with sword symbol, which had been seen earlier by Neuville and Père Azaïs. [ [http://130.238.24.99/library/resources/dossiers/local_history_of_ethiopia/t/ORTTES.pdf "Local History in Ethiopia"] (pdf) The Nordic Africa Institute website (accessed 31 May 2008)] The archeological site was designated a World Heritage Site in 1980.

Other points of interest neighboring Tiya include Melka Awash and the Hare Shetan crater lake.

Notes

Further reading

* Roger Joussaume (editor), "Tiya, l'Éthiopie des Mégalithes, du Biface a l'Art Rupestre dans laCorne d'Afrique" (Paris: UNESCO/CNS, 1995).

External links

* [http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/12 UNESCO Tiya Site]