Sustaining Ethiopian heritage sites: The case of Gemate burial site in Dejen

Abstract

Ethiopia is endowed with numerous heritage resources. However, the country is not in a position to utilize such resources to ensure tourism development from which local communities can generate multi-faceted benefits. Many heritage sites in the country are exposed to serious damages and their survival is questionable. This paper aimed at conducting a preliminary study on the Gemate burial site of Dejen Wereda, Ethiopia. It utilized a qualitative research method to explore the indigenous knowledge about the Gemate burial site, its research and tourism values, and its degree of deterioration. Purposive and snowball sampling techniques were used to select key informants who have good knowledge, experience, and connection with the heritage site. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focused group discussion, document analysis, and personal observation. A thematic data analysis technique was used to analyze the data. The findings of this study elucidated that the Gemate burial site has a very rich and interesting history that could inspire further archaeological, tourism, and historical researches. The potential of the Gemate burial site in bridging the dispute between oral tradition and secondary sources regarding its establishment time was discussed in this study. However, as the findings of this study uncover, the sustainability of the Gemate heritage site is questionable due to human-made and natural damages. This study calls for prompt corrective measures to sustain the heritage site and tourism product development in order to use this place as a tool for sustainable tourism development.