Nestled amidst the rugged landscapes of Aksum, Gobedra Hill stands as a silent witness to the grand ambitions of the Axumite Empire. Carved by skilled hands and the forces of history, this ancient quarry was the birthplace of the towering stelae that now define Aksum’s archaeological legacy. On its southern and northeastern slopes, remnants of meticulous craftsmanship endure—stone channels, wedge marks, and an unfinished monolith, abandoned mid-extraction due to an untimely crack. The Wushate Golo (Gual Gobedra) site is believed to have yielded the largest stelae, which were carefully maneuvered down a 50-meter slipway before embarking on a 4-kilometer journey to the Main Stelae Field. But how were these colossal stones transported? The most compelling theory credits the mighty elephants of Aksum, whose sheer strength powered the empire’s most ambitious engineering feats. As you stand among these remnants of ingenuity, Gobedra whispers tales of an era when stone met spirit, and ambition met artistry.