Heritage valuing and the challenge of remoteness: The case of the rock-hewn church of Nazugn Mariam, Meket District, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

AbstractThis study aims to explore the values and conservation threats of Nazugn Mariam monolithic rock-hewn church, a typical instance not only show the country’s long forgotten, ill-considered and endangered ancient rock-hewn churches in the rural areas but also its underdeveloped heritage management system. The study employed both primary and secondary sources which were collected through field observation, interviews and review of written sources. The result of the study showed that the monolithic rock-hewn church of Nazugn Mariam entails significant environmental, spiritual, historical, and architectural values which are not known due to its remoteness. However, this important hypogeum is continually deteriorated due to natural agents such as torrential summer rainfall at one time and sunlight at the other time. Besides, locally practiced repairing works are unwise which neither restore lost architectural features nor effective in sustaining the hypogeum in its current situation. New retrofitted materials like concreted basaltic stone are completely uninformed interventions that not only could not have restored lost values but also endangering this important hypogeum, calling for urgent collaborated restoration work. The conservation problems of this hypogeum attest the country’s poorly developed cultural heritage management system that couldn’t reach out cultural heritage in the remote areas.

Keywords

• heritage values
• remoteness
• rock-hewn
• Nazugn Maryam
• conservation practices
• conservation challenges