Lost African city discovered

French archaologists find Nora

A French team of archaeologists have found the site of a medieval trade centre in Ethiopia. Using an ancient manuscript that was discovered in the walled city of Harar (pictured), two French archaeologists began to look for Gendebelo - an old African city where Ethiopia’s Christian and Muslim communities would meet to trade with one another.

The manuscript includes an account of a 16th century Venetian traveller visiting Gendebelo, which gave the archaeologists clues as to the location. ??A description in the manuscript of the swapping of mules for camels at Gendebelo gave the archaeologists some idea of the geography of the site.

With this clue, they uncovered the location between highland escarpment and the Danakil Depression. ??The site - named ‘Nora’ - today stands virtually abandoned apart from a mosque. But according to legend, Nora was once exceptionally affluent – one tale tells of levels of consumption that led Allah to destroy the town with a rain of ash.

Ethiopia is a country rich in history. The ancient walled city of Harar is considered the fourth holiest sight for Muslims, but as a UNESCO World Heritage Site attracts travellers from all over the world. Whilst the ruins of Nora are off-the-beaten track on a rocky outcrop only usually visited by local farmers, teams behind the Genedebelo/Nora mission expect that after excavation work the town may become a popular tourist site.