Stunning treasures of Africa’s archaeological heritage

Discovered in 1902, the ruins of Loropeni represent the only witnesses of a fortification activity in the region of Lodi, in Burkina Faso. To discover the secrets of this archaeological construction, an international research team was established. At the intersection of several disciplines and research methodologies, this team tries to understand the history of this site.

A Franco-Ethiopian research team is attempting to understand the complex past of Lalibela, located in Ethiopia, one of the most important Christian sites in Africa. The aim of this partnership is to identify the progressive stages of excavation of the eleven churches on the site in order to study the history of Lalibela throughout its existence. Alongside the archaeological excavations, a digitisation project is underway. Engineers are working on the internal and…

In this short film, Philippe Colomban, a researcher from the LADIR, presents the works of scientists who use the laser and the Raman scattering technique to identify the pigments and the adjuvants in the rock paintings done by the San people in South Africa.

A team of historians and archaeologists has finally found written sources that will help them write a forgotten period of Ethiopia's history. What is unexpected is that these islamic tombstones are being uncovered in the heart of what was the Christian Kingdom of medieval Ethiopia...

In southwestern Zimbabwe, the Matobo Hills are well-known for their thousands of rock art sites. Since 2017, a team of French and Zimbabwean archaeologists and rock art specialists have been studying these caves. Their goal is to date the paintings and identify the pictorial techniques used by Prehistorian artists. This includes analysing the many tools, ropes, and rocks found in the Pomongwe Cave, one of the richest of the area. New technologies are used to reveal paintings that…

Marie-Dominique Nenna is an archaeologist and a specialist in ancient glasswork. This film follows her search to locate the primary workshops of Egypt that produced the raw glass necessary to satisfy a growing demand for glassware during the Roman era. Beginning in archives and libraries, she then sets off to explore the hinterland of Alexandria and the oasis of Wadi Natroun. There, with the aid of geophysical surveys and traditional excavation techniques, she uncovers on the site of…

Researchers are conducting a detailed investigation to analyse Coptic mummies from 1,500 years ago found at the Egyptian necropolis of Antinoe. Tribology, the science of friction and wear is their speciality. they are trying to better understand the embalming and gold leaf application techniques by analysing the skin and hair of these mummies along with the gilding and textile traces. Perhaps also finding some leads for possible reconstructions of clothing.

Des monnaies d'époque ptolémaïques ont été retrouvées sur le site de Marea en Egypte puis étudiées dans l'entrepôt de Shallalat à Alexandrie. Grâce à l'archéologie expérimentale, les chercheurs tentent de découvrir les techniques de fabrication et les méthodes de frappe en recréant un atelier monétaire, dans la plateforme des arts du feu à Melle (Deux-Sèvres). L'objectif est de recréer, à partir de monnaies de bronze (en particulier la monnaie de Ptolémée aux deux aigles…