Meroitic KEDURMA

Meroitic settlement in the Mahas region appears to have been quite limited, especially in the rocky cataract zone.  A small Meroitic cemetery (probably dating to the 1st-2nd century BCE) has been excavated at Soleb, close to the important New Kingdom temple.  The only major settlement site so far identified is one at Kedurma, a little to the north of the Third Cataract on the east bank of the river. Located in an area with little agricultural potential, and still sparsely inhabited, the site has much in common with other Meroitic sites of northern Nubia and may have been concerned primarily with the control and administration of long-distance trade to Egypt. During the 2000 field season a hitherto unknown Meroitic (and Napatan) cemetery was found at Arduan (Arduan island) as well as a small Meroitic cemetery at Fad, near Nauri.

The Meroitic Settlement

  A view across the settlement site at Kedurma. In the foreground are the ruins of a large building, apparently partially cleared during the 1930's. As yet no major excavations have been carried out here. A large sand-covered mound beyond masks another major building.

The cemetery

The construction of a raised irrigation channel cutting across the cemetery damaged several graves. Remnants of the mudbrick superstructure (possibly a small pyramid) can be seen here, partially covered by the earth bank on the left.  In the foreground are the foundations of a small brick niche/chapel in front of the tomb. The sandy patch behind indicates that the grave has previously been robbed - probably in antiquity.  Within the area of the Meroitic cemetery, a number of low mounds covered with small black stones seem likely to mark a small Kerma period cemetery, more than 1,500 years older than the Meroitic graves.

        Meroitic pottery

  Pottery from the cemetery area includes a range of decorated wares, mainly jars, cups and bowls. The decoration of some (left, bottom row) closely matchs that found on small globular jars with long necks recovered from Sedeinga, and a few sites further north in Lower Nubia proper (Leclant 1995). On current evidence these may well all be the products of a single production centre, perhaps located somewhere between the Third Cataract and the Batn el Hajar. Some of the material may date to the last centuries BC but most is likely to date to the first and second centuries AD

Within the settlement area, handmade wares are more in evidence.  Impressed decoration is quite common on these types, which seem mainly to represent jars and large bowls. However, in the absence of detailed studies of such pottery from other Meroitic settlements, the date and significance of such products remains uncertain.

post-Meroitic sites

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