A 1965 glimpse into the daily markets and remote monasteries of Ethiopia and Eritrea.
In short: This archival footage captures a 1965 expedition through regions now split between Ethiopia and Eritrea. It offers a rare, observational look at traditional market life, local architecture, and the challenging access to a sixth-century rock-carved monastery.
Filmed between March 25 and 30, 1969, this reel documents a journey through locations including Edaga Di Baraua, Mendefera, Adi Quala, Rama, and Aksum. The footage provides a detailed ethnographic record of regional commerce, showcasing everything from grain markets and salt vendors to specific cultural markers, such as an inverted cup on a stick signaling that beer is available for purchase.
The expedition also visited the sixth-century Rehe Damos Monastery, a site carved directly into a cliffside. Access to the monastery was famously difficult, requiring visitors to scale leather cables to reach the entrance. The site maintained strict rules, including a prohibition on women and female animals, and relied on carved reservoirs for water rather than wells.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Ethiopia 1965 Reel 11 of 65
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