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One ancient city in Ethiopia, which dates back to the 10th century, became a site of fascination for archaeologists. Even though researchers did not have the ability to conclude that a race of “giants” lived there, as the locals believed, they nonetheless have determined that the region was at one time a center of a thriving civilization.
The legends of the giants are prevalent. The most popular giant comes from the Old Testament-Goliath. In Greek mythology, giants are known as Gigantes and in Indian mythology as Daityas. Are these only a product of the wild imagination of our ancestors, or is at the heart if every legend a grain of truth like they say there is? This question old for ages appeared once again when archaeologists started excavating Harlaa in eastern Ethiopia where giants once lived, according to locals.
For years, the locals were discovering Chinese coins, as well as old pottery. Additionally, they have found huge building stones which were not capable of being moved by humans without the use of modern machinery. This also leads to the belief that just giants had the potential to move them. For about two years, one team of British archaeologists that was led by Timothy Insoll, who is a professor at the University of Exeter in the UK, were searching the site for artifacts.
But, were they actually motivated by a hypothesis of giants, as well as a possible revolution in archaeological knowledge? We still do not know that, but the artifacts which were found by the local people were actually enough to attract the researchers.
Professor Timothy Insoll said:
The locals were extremely keen for us to solve mysteries. The farmers were finding some strange objects, which include Chinese coins while working on their land, and a legend started that the area was home to the giants.
Unluckily, to the sad realization of the local people, there was no proof of giants found by the team of archaeologists. Professor Insoll added:
Obviously, we have disproved that, but I am still not sure that they fully believe us yet. Some of they said that the bodies which we discovered were the children of giants.
However, the expedition did not end without some interesting discoveries. The team of professor Insoll found a 12th-century mosque, as well as evidence of Islamic burials and headstones. Also, they have found jewelry, pottery from as far as China and the Maldives, as well as some coins from 13th-century Egypt. Such findings actually indicate an important ancient trading city which is connected with the Gulf, Egypt, as well as India and Middle Eastern cities throughout Africa.
As BBC reported, professor Insoll said:
This is a discovery which revolutionizes our understandings of trade in an archaeologically neglected part of Ethiopia. What we have actually found shows that this area was simply the center of trade in that area.
Even though it looks like they have yet to prove the existence of giants, there is still the question of whether the researchers have “dug enough.” Is maybe the scientific community too conservative to accept such revolutionizing concept?
A lot of cultures, as well as their legends that were separated by vast oceans, similarly indicated that there were giants once living on Earth, and different megalithic monuments also suggest their existence in the past. What is the truth and it is going to be revealed in the future that comes?
Even though there is evidence that proves the legend of giants of Ethiopia could not be found, the findings of some rich cosmopolitan city in Harlaa is for sure quite a find.
