Yeha palace in Ethiopia shows ancient skyscraper potential

Recent archaeological research in Yeha, northern Ethiopia, suggests that a 2,800-year-old palace complex possessed the structural capacity to function as an ancient skyscraper. Using mathematical modeling and structural analysis, researchers determined that the Grat Be’al Gibri complex, linked to the pre-Aksumite kingdom of Dʿmt, was engineered to support multiple floors.

The structure featured a square floor plan of approximately 60 by 60 meters, an elevated podium, and a monumental entrance with sandstone pillars. To achieve such stability, ancient builders utilized a strategic combination of carved stone, mud, and wooden beams. The stone provided the necessary mass for the base, mud acted as a binding and filling element, and wooden beams served as a tie structure to distribute mechanical stress and maintain wall integrity.

This study shifts the archaeological focus from merely describing ruins to calculating the load-bearing limits of ancient materials, demonstrating advanced engineering capabilities in East Africa long before the industrial era.