Konso Cultural Landscape Ethiopia
Konso Cultural Landscape is a 55km2 arid properties of stone walled terraces and fortified settlements in the Konso highlands of Ethiopia. It constitutes a spectacular example of a living cultural tradition stretching back 21 generations (more than 400 years) adapted to its dry hostile environment. The landscape demonstrates the shared values, social cohesion and engineering knowledge of its communities. The site also features anthropomorphic wooden statues - grouped to represent respected members of their communities and particularly heroic events - which are an exceptional living testimony to funerary traditions that are on the verge of disappearing. Stone steles in the towns express a complex system of marking the passing of generations of leaders.
Continent: Africa
Country: Ethiopia
Category: Cultural
Criterion: (III)(IV)
Date of Inscription: 2011
Konso Town
Konso is a town on the Sagan River in southwestern Ethiopia. Konso, named after the Konso people, is known for its religious traditions, waga sculptures, and nearby fossil beds. The administrative centre of the Konso is special woreda of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples Region and an elevation of 1650 meters. It is also called Pakawle by some of the neighbouring inhabitants.
Konso Cultural Traditional Gate |