University of Florida Thesis Or Dissertation Formatting Template
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THE LIFE AND DEATH OF MEDIEVAL ETHIOPIAN PRIESTS: A BIOARCHAEOLOGICAL AND OSTEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION OF HUMAN MUMMIES FROM ABUNE MELKETSADIK AND YIMREHANE CAVE MONASTERIES, ETHIOPIA By ABIYOT DEBEBE SEIFU A DISSERTATION PRESENTED TO THE GRADUATE SCHOOL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA 2016 © 2016 Abiyot Debebe Seifu To all Ethiopian Christians martyrs Killed by ISIS in Libya, to my father, to my sisters, and to Hanna Amare ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I thank my committee chair, Dr. Steven Brandt, first and foremost for his extraordinary support, advice, and patience these past few years. He was always there, every step of the way and also helped me to develop critical thinking. This dissertation would not be possible without his support and guidance. I would also like to thank my doctoral committee for their advice on the area of their specialization throughout the entire PhD process. I am grateful to the National Geographic Society, Waitt Grants Program, for providing funding for the field work and I would particularly like to thank the Waitt Program Coordinator, Fabio Esteban Amador. I am grateful for the generous assistance of the Department of Anthropology for providing financial assistance for my fieldwork. In particular, I am indebted to Dr. Susan deFrance for her unwavering support. I am also grateful for the countless support of Juanita Bagnall, Karen Jones and Pamela Freeman. I am also grateful to the African Studies for the fellowship and funding my dissertation providing. In particular, I am grateful for Dr. Leonardo Villalon, Dr. Abe Goldman, Dr. Agnes Leslie, Dr. Mary Watt, and Dr. Todd Leedy, who facilitated my graduate study and fieldwork funding. I would like to thank Dr. John Krigbaum for generously extending his assistance to cover the isotope samples cost and interprets the results. I would also like to thank Dr. Michael Warren for allowing me to use the C.A Pound Lab for the forensic analysis. I want to extend my sincere appreciation to Robert Galluccio and Michala Schaye, who spent several hours in the lab to prepare and analyze the result. I would also like to express my gratitude to Dr. Yonas Beyene, Dr. Kassaye Begashaw, Dr. Alemseged Beldados, Dr. FeKadu Gashaw and Dr. Hana Getachew, who provided material and precious advice during the data collection period. I also 4 acknowledge the support of Dr. Abiyot Legesse, Dean of the Graduate School and the faculty and staff at Dilla University, who warmly received me, gave me space to work, and accommodation. I thank the Authority for Research and Conservation of Cultural Heritage for their continuous support of my doctoral research. In particular, I thank Ato Yonas Desta, Director of ARCCH, who worked hard to facilitate my fieldwork by contacting state and local officials. I am also grateful for the Amhara Region, the Northern Shewa and Wello, Culture and Tourism Bureau, who facilitated the research permit. I would also like to extend my gratitude to the Lasta Woreda Culture and Tourism Bureau Head Adera Chane, who worked tirelessly to facilitate the work permit and the research project. I am also grateful for the role of Mengistu Gobeze, for his expertise and support. I am incredibly grateful for the work of Yibzawork Mesfin and Debreguad Sellassie Renovation Committee, who facilitated the excavation and data collection process. Numerous people contributed to this dissertation in different ways, and I want to thank you all for being my guardian angels. I would like to extend my appreciation especially to Dr. Dawit Woldu, Dr. Asmeret Mehari, Lucas M. Johnson, Sara Stefanos, Jesse A. McClelland and Justin Dunnavant, who edited my dissertation. I am especially grateful to Paul Murray, who made me a better writer. He devoted a substantial amount of his time to polish my dissertation and kept my spirits up. It was my privilege working with him as he is very punctual, responsible and above all, very tirelessly supportive. I am also grateful for the help of Linda, who also edited my dissertation. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Brigitte, Danny, Albert, Andrea and Tigist for continuous encouragement. I would like to extend my appreciation particularly 5 to Tigist Tolera (mimi), who provided material and look after my family when I was away for fieldwork and Andrea for editing my dissertation. I have also been fortunate to have wonderful friends for more than three decades who are the member of the Senate, namely Abebe Mebrate, Solomon Legesse, and Joni Girma. They are my inspirations and encouraged me every step of the way. I am also indebted to Dr.Tesfamariam, Sewalem and Shimelis, who provided me accommodations and a long time true friends. I also want to thank Halleluiah, Nahom, Caleb and Eferata for their untold encouragement. I have been fortunate enough to have wonderful extended family members who contributed tremendously in different ways. My heartfelt thanks go to my mother Kebebish Geda, who helped me every step of the way. I am also grateful for my brothers Asfaw, Teferi, Asrat, Yirgedu Serkalem and Tigist Debebe. I am also grateful for the help of Aynalem Yifru, Eyob Haile, Thomas Assefa, George Melaku Getnet and Fikirte, Adey and Hanny Abebe. I am very grateful for especially for Eyob and Thomas, who spend their precious time to format my dissertation. Finally, I would like to extend my most gracious appreciation to my beloved wife Minaye Desie Tefera, and my two beautiful daughters Mighty and Naomi Abiyot, who were stood and encouraged me. Minaye's courage and wisdom inspired me to work hard and endure the challenges. She dedicated her time to take good care of our daughters, and it helped me to finish this dissertation. I am the luckiest person in the whole world to have them. This dissertation would not have been possible without their support. 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS page ACKNOWLEDGMENTS .................................................................................................. 4 LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................... 10 LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................ 11 LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................... 15 ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................... 17 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION .................................................................................................... 20 Research Goals and Objectives ............................................................................. 25 Research Methods .................................................................................................. 26 On-Site Data Collection and Analyses ............................................................. 26 Off-Site Methods of Analysis ............................................................................ 27 Challenges and Limitations of the Study ................................................................. 27 Structure of the Dissertation ................................................................................... 31 2. HISTORY OF MUMMIFICATION IN EGYPT AND NUBIA ...................................... 36 Etymology of Mummy and Mummification .............................................................. 36 Previous Works on Mummies and Mummification in the Egypt and Nubia ............. 38 The Origin of Mummification in Egypt ..................................................................... 41 Neolithic to Early Dynastic Mummification (c.5000-2686 BC)........................... 41 Old Kingdom Mummification (c.2686-2160 BC) ............................................... 42 First Intermediate Mummification (c.2160-2055 BC) ........................................ 44 Middle Kingdom Mummification (c.2055-1650 BC) .......................................... 44 Second Intermediate Period Mummification (c.1650-1550 BC) ........................ 45 New Kingdom Mummification (c.1550-1069 BC) .............................................. 45 Third Intermediate Period Mummification (c.1069-664 BC) .............................. 46 Late Period (c.664-332 BC) .............................................................................. 47 Ptolemaic Period (c.332-30 BC) ....................................................................... 47 The Roman Period Mummification (c.30-395 AD) ............................................ 48 Coptic Period Mummification (c.395-641 AD) ................................................... 48 Mummification in Nubia........................................................................................... 49 Materials Used in Mummification ............................................................................ 50 Aromatic Substances ....................................................................................... 50 Adhesive Substance ......................................................................................... 51 Deterrent Substances ....................................................................................... 52 Classification of Mummies ...................................................................................... 53 7 Processes of Mummification ................................................................................... 57 Motives for