mahas2003

Work on collating and analysing material from the 2002 season was carried out during January 2003 in the Department of Archaeology, University of Khartoum. This included the study of an interesting group of late medieval pottery in samples collected by Dr. Intisar Soghayroun El-Zein from Jebel Kadamusa, just north of the Third cataract. This material almost entirely comprised handmade late medieval wares. The bulk of the pottery can be related to a number of Adams’ Wares of late medieval date (Group D.III). The most distinctive of these are Ware H6 (Late Christian Incised Red Domestic Ware), Ware H7 (Late Christian Painted Red Domestic Ware) and perhaps Ware H14 (Late Christian Painted White Domestic Ware). To these may be added the undecorated H5 (Later Christian Red Domestic Ware), a red-slipped ware and coarser unslipped H4 (Later Domestic Plain Utility Ware). Rare sherds of the Later Christian Black Domestic Ware (Ware H8) were found but the distinctive 'Post-Christian' Schist-tempered domestic wares (H15 and H16) were not identified in the collections.

As W. Y. Adams suggests, these late medieval decorated wares arose specifically as a response to the disappearance of the wheel-made wares (1986: 40). The later medieval wares (notably his Wares H6, H7 and H14) appear as relatively standardised and widespread products. Adams found them throughout Lower Nubia and through the Batn el Hajar, although their distribution south of Kulubnarti was unknown. They have been identified at a few site in the Third Cataract region, and have been seen in collections from sites in the northern Dongola Reach, but as yet not further south..

Chronologically, the scarcity of Black ware H8 and the absence of schist-tempered wares H15 and H16 is consistent with a later medieval date. Adams suggested that H8 was uncommon after c.1250, especially in southern parts of Lower Nubia, while H15 and H16 don’t seem to appear in Nubia until the 16th century. Following his suggestions we might date Kadamusa to the period c.1350-1550. Three AMS dates from the site fall into this period..

During the summer, the student training project continued its work in the region, combining training for University of Khartoum undergraduates in fieldwork with a study tour of the many sites in the region, and in the Dongola Reach. This provided the opportunity for some additional survey work on both banks of the the Nile to the north of the Third Cataract, mainly between Kokke and Sesi/Handikka on the west bank and around Delgo/Aggeteri on the east bank.

The bulk of this work remained concentrated on postmedieval/early modern sites in this area. Of particualr interst are the numerous Islamic qubba tombs found on the west bank in the villages of Kokke, Tura'a, Sudla and Shadda. These villages (and the islands of Narnarti and Artimiri), known as the 'birka al Mahas', were the major centres of population throughout the postmedieval period, as well as being the political focus of the region. The qubba tombs of this area provide a very visible reminder of the growing importance of Islamic religious authority and power in this region, as in other parts of the Sudan.

A small test excavation was carried out on the hilltop of Jebel Sesi the massive medieval fortifed site, on the west bank opposite Delgo. This found traces of mediaval buildings, now totally demolished. Finds of pottery of very late 'X-Group'/Early Christian date (6th century) are the earliest so far found on the site. On current evidence the site, and perhaps its fortifcations, may well have been established during this period, and seems likely to have been a Nobatian outpost prior to the unifcation of Nobatia and Makuria.