Aksum (Axum) in Tigray is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as the capital of a major ancient civilization that linked the Ethiopian highlands to the Red Sea trade of the first millennium CE.
Giant granite stelae, royal tombs, palace ruins, and the Church of St. Mary of Zion—central to Ethiopian Orthodox tradition and the Ark of the Covenant narrative—make Aksum both an archaeological site and a living pilgrimage center.
Conflict damage and conservation needs in recent years have only heightened the importance of documenting and protecting Aksum’s heritage for Ethiopian and global audiences.
