Tiya

Tiya

Tiya is situated on a remote, barren stretch of land 70 kilometers south of Addis Ababa. The Tiya cultural site features massive stones, some weighing dozens or even hundreds of tons, tightly fitted together. These enigmatic megaliths from the 12th to 14th centuries encircle the burial site of warriors from a long-lost civilization. Among the relics found are stone-carved knives, scrapers, axes, and perforated arrowheads. This area was once a fairly prosperous village, and archaeologists have also discovered small metal nails in the cracks between the stones—used to secure them. It is believed that these metal nails were made by melting metal and pouring it into carved stone molds.

Perhaps the most striking feature is the monolithic stone gate, which stands atop a base measuring 30 feet in length, 15 feet in width, and 6 feet in thickness. The base and the gate were carved from a single piece of rock. At the ancient city of Tiwanaku, the Sun Gate is engraved with depictions of the extinct prehistoric animal "Toxodon" and the contemporaneously extinct saber-toothed beast. The Sun Gate also bears intricate and precise astronomical calendars. The site has 36 monuments, 32 of which are stone pillars adorned with carvings—most of which remain difficult to interpret.

Tiya is a remnant of ancient Ethiopian culture, though its exact age remains undetermined. The site is home to a wealth of religious architecture, paintings, sculptures, and a highly developed ancient indigenous culture. The crumbling ruins, giant stone statues, stelae, sprawling stone walls, and scattered megaliths scattered throughout the area offer a glimpse into the once-thriving religious sanctuary.