At the foot of the Lalibela churches in Ethiopia, carved out of the rock nearly 800 years ago, French and Ethiopian experts roam, tactile tablets in hand. They scan all the buildings still very popular with the faithful to assess the state of conservation.
Since the 13th century, churches have weakened and cracks have appeared. In 2008, the European Union financed roofs for five of the eleven Orthodox churches on the site. Protection solutions must also be found for uncovered churches.
To find an optimal solution, the study of the site will continue for several months.