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Debre Damo

Debre Damo Monastery
Ethiopia500 CE1500 CE6th Century — Medieval14.17, 39.37
About the site

A historic monastery on a flat-topped mountain, inaccessible by road. It is one of the oldest monasteries in Ethiopia and a repository of ancient manuscripts, including early versions of the Bible.

Principal findings
  • iAncient Ge'ez manuscripts and biblical texts
  • iiRock-hewn church architecture
  • iiiTraditional Ethiopian Orthodox frescoes
  • ivEvidence of continuous monastic life for 1500 years

Excavators — Local monastic community