This important and comprehensive work by David Phillipson has clearly superseded your reviewer's 2007 treatment of the archaeology of Ethiopia, and it should be recognised as the standard work on the archaeology of the northern Horn of Africa. Focusing geographically upon the northern highlands of the Horn of Africa (ie northern Ethiopia and Eritrea) and chronologically upon the ‘pre-Aksumite’, ‘Aksumite’ and ‘post-Aksumite/medieval’ periods (ie c 1000 bc to ad 1300), the writer, one of the most distinguished and pre-eminent scholars of African (let alone Ethiopian) archaeology, offers us a detailed overview of what may be regarded as something of an African backwater, especially in comparison to the better-studied adjacent areas of the Red Sea and Sudan.

With equable ecological conditions and sited favourably at the juxtaposition of the African and Arabian worlds, the kingdom of Aksum grew to prominence in the first century ad as an African economic power, and then importantly in the fourth century onwards as a Christian kingdom enmeshed in the wider eastern Mediterranean and Indian Ocean worlds of late antiquity. The present book very much reflects the character and interest of its author. Professor Phillipson's extensive and important excavations at Aksum (Tigray, Ethiopia) in 1993–7, published in Reference Phillipson2000 as a Society of Antiquaries Research Report, shed new light on the chronological development and material culture of the Aksumite polity that dominated these highlands during the first seven centuries ad. In more recent years, Professor Phillipson has slightly reoriented his interests to consider the development of the medieval church architecture of the northern and central highlands, and his work on the ancient churches of Ethiopia (Phillipson Reference Phillipson2009) also typically set new and high standards in the analysis of these distinctive cultural motifs. Taking into account his wider experience in African archaeology as a whole, and an early career as a prehistorian of the later periods of eastern and southern Africa, we find an unparalleled personal expertise in Ethiopian archaeology coming together in this book. The range and depth of the treatment is excellent.

Although the Aksumite system is clearly the focus of the book (if anything because Aksumite sites have been so extensively excavated and researched), the study is usefully bookended by a discussion of the main cultural and economic developments in the first century bc (note that the author rather shies away from using that contentious term ‘pre-Aksumite’ period, and this is entirely consistent with his recent papers) and of the post-Aksumite medieval period, best personified by the rock-hewn and cave churches of Tigray and Lalibela. Drawing upon a wide body of recent research and of source material, the analysis centres upon the development and character of the Aksumite polity. The recent work of Rodolfo Fattovich at Beta Giyogis, Aksum, is given due consideration although Phillipson's discussion does rather draw attention to the need for a comprehensive account of this research. This is an important site, which requires proper and full publication.

Fourteen chapters deal in detail with varying facets of the Aksumite system, including inscriptions, trade, burials, coinage and monumental architecture inter alia. The sources are extensive and comprehensive and one is left with the feeling that nothing has been left out. It is hard to fault this comprehensive and detailed overview, and from the perspective of a university teacher the accessibility of language and clarity of expression means that this book ought to become a fixture on any reading list dealing with African archaeology. A chapter on the post-Aksumite, Zagwe dynasty of Lalibela, and an outline of approaches to further study of this important heritage, complete the overview. This book will remain the standard work for years to come; it focuses upon the ‘business end’ of Ethiopian archaeology and engages with a broad range of sources and concepts. If there is a quibble it comes in regard to the final quality of the publication. Some black and white reproductions (such as Figs 78 and 83, for example, which are admittedly internal shots of rock-hewn churches) do not work well, but there are actually few publishers who can handle this, and it rather falls short of the fine efforts made by the British Museum Press with Professor Phillipson's 1996 book Ancient Ethiopia, which set high standards in reproduction. These issues should not detract, however, from a superb scholarly achievement.