How was ancient knowledge in ancient Axum?

Answer 1

Hope this helps:

"The ancient Kindgom of Aksum is well-known as one of the earliest Christian states as well as for its accomplishments in architecture, ceramics, coinage, the development of a unique Ge'ez language and civilization, and domination of Red Sea trade for several centuries in 1st Millennium A.D. (Munro-Hay). However, a complete understanding of its origins is still lacking. It is only recently that Africanists are making headway in challenging the "Out of Africa" premise for the rise of this complex culture, i.e. South Arabian immigrants and colonizers from Saba (Yemen) were the genius behind the establishment of Aksum, and all of its accomplishments. The roles of indigenous, African societies were either minimized, or altogether ignored. Sound familiar to the debates on the origins of Ancient Egypt?

It turns out, that new discoveries of urban settlements in the plateaus of Asmara, dated to 800 B.C., are set to radically revise the existing interpretation of Aksumite and Pre-Aksumite culture, emphasizing the indigenous component, literally changing the "face of history" (photos available at shaebia.org). In light of these discoveries and "physical continuities in the Southern Red Sea Area", Curtis concludes that "The Pre-Aksumite settlements and contemporaneous Sabean settlements of the southern Arabian Peninsula are best viewed as co-evolving". Who exactly were the Pre-Aksumites anyway? The search for answers, and ensuing scholarly debates, will surely continue for some time."

Link two will take you to this National Geographic article:

"Keepers of the Faith: The Living Legacy of Aksum"

"The country's rich history is woven with legends of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba; the Ark of the Covenant that is said to rest in Axum; the great Axumite kingdom and the birth of Christianity; the rise of Islam; and the story of King Lalibela, who is believed to have constructed the eleven rock-hewn churches, still standing today and considered the eighth wonder of the world."