Adadi Mariam rock hewn churches, Malka Kunture paleontological site and Tiya stelae field

 Heading south-west on the Jimma Road, then turning south on to the Butajira Road. Melka Kunture lies near the Awash River Gorge and is one of the most important neolithic sites in Ethiopia. Hand axes and various other implements have been found here. There is a museum at the site.

A bit further on the Butajira Road, is the rock hewn church of Adadi Mariam, contemporaneous with those of Lalibela – in fact local tradition ascribes it to King Lalibela who is said to have had it built on his visit to Mount Zuqwala in 1106. Damaged during the wars with Ahmed Gragn in the 16th century, it fell into disuse and was only reopened in the time of Menelik II. It is today in regular use.

Our final stop today is at Tiya stellae which are believed to have been erected between the 12th and 14th centuries and are almost certainly grave markers – recent excavations at Tiya have revealed the remains of young people of both sexes, aged between 18 – 30 and buried in fetal positions. It is classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

At some stage we will take a picnic lunch and leave for the return journey to Addis Ababa and arrive in the late afternoon.