As discussed in section three, a Ph.D. project by Alebachew Belay Birru (2016-2020) at the Université of Toulouse Jean-Jaurès, France, continued to address issues such as the geographic extent of the culture, typo-morphological scope of the megaliths, settlements of the builders, as well as local memories associated with the megalithic sites that were left for an in-depth archaeological inquiry. The study of the distribution of megalithic sites portrays the relative concentration of structures in different parts of the study area, irrespective of their size and typology. Accordingly, classification of the region into core, periphery-core and periphery was made possible based on the spatial position of monuments and related criteria; it permitted to demonstrate the differences among monuments and sites based on their surface features. The GIS maps with magnified illustration presented in the thesis depict this idea in a much more tangible manner. The spatial distribution analysis also reveals two contextual aspects of the culture, namely, first, the connection with specific geographic features such as rivers and uplands, and second, directions followed by the spread of the Shay Culture on the Central Highlands. Two directions are suggested from the west and center, both oriented towards the east with intermittent continuation to the northwest. These hypotheses can be used as a base map for subsequent sub-surface and comparative studies. Besides, the number of sites documented by Alebachew (2020_b) has now reached over three hundred. Currently, the researcher is looking for funds to further explore, and excavate selected sites with particular emphasis on the two special megalithic sites and monuments called Sayǝṭān Gur that are found in Menz, as discussed else where in this paper, to better understand the genesis of megalithic culture of the region. Meanwhile, understanding the origin and circulation of the burial goods so far discovered particularly beads which are also prevalent in recently excavated Christian and Islamic sites is the other project on-progress. 

(Alebachew Belay Birru, February 2023)