Botiala is located in a
wadi to the east of the ancient port city of
Qandala, between
Cape Guardafui and
Bosaso. The area is abundant in
frankincense of the highest quality.
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Nearby are around
200 stone monuments (taalos), most of which consist of cairns. The bigger cairns are covered in shingles and tend to be more sturdily constructed. There are a number of rows of standing stones (menhirs) on the eastern side of the structures, which are similar to those at
Salweyn, a great cairn-held situated close to
Heis. Besides cairns, the Botiala area also features a few other drystone monuments. These include disc monuments with circular, ground-level features, as well as low, rectangular platform monuments.
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A couple of hundred meters away are extensive shell
middens. These stretch along the shoreline for a distance of around a kilometer. The site also contains the remains of what was apparently a dam that was built from boulders. This structure is located in an area near a shallow drainage line, which passes through mounds.
[1]
Additionally, some pottery sherds have been found in Botiala. The fragments are gritty and coarse, and resemble the ware at
Hafun.
[1]
