The Christian Nubian kingdoms disintegrated in the late medieval period, although their later history still remains poorly understood.  Christianity seems to have gradually disappeared, and the last Nubian bishops are recorded in the 1480s although some Christian communities may have survived into the sixteenth century. At the same time, Islam was spreading into the region, which was to become well known for its religious teachers.  While few early Islamic monuments survive in the region, many qubba tombs of local religious leaders exist which may be dated to the 17th-18th centuries, and possibly earlier.

From about 1500, central Sudan was dominated by the new Funj Sultanate of Sennar, on the Blue Nile, but northern Nubia seems to have remained beyond its control.  However, by the 1580s the new Ottoman government of Egypt was extending its control up the Nile into Nubia and the Ottoman army reached the Third Cataract which came to form a new frontier.

The main Ottoman garrisons were stationed north of the Mahas, with the main frontier fortress at Sai island and this region seems to have remained relatively independant of the two great powers to north and south. Several fortified settlements have been located which seem to date to the 16th-18th centuries. One, an unusual fortifed site at Jebel Kadamusa (KDA002), south of Delgo, has produced radiocarbon dates from the late 15th-16th centuries -- a period when we know very little about the region. Much more research is required if we are to fully understand this fascinating period.

Local traditions record the existence of a Mahas king or 'mek', perhaps as early as the 16th century - perhaps based at Koka - who controlled most of this region during the post-medieval period.  We know that further north, local  'meks' were closely involved with the Ottoman 'kashef' administration of Lower Nubia, but the extent to which the Mahas 'meks' remained independent of them remains to be established. The last Mahas 'mek' submitted to the Anglo-Egyptian authorities after the Mahdiyya and the family still lives at Koka.

Qubba tomb in Koka cemetery - burial place of the Mahas 'kings'  (photo: May 1999)
 

In tracing the more recent history of the region, there is clearly great potential for linking archaeology, history and folkloric traditions in future research.
 
 

Mudbrick tombs (KDA001) below the fortified site at Jebel Kadamusa (KDA002) of the 15th-16th (?)century. The site and the cemetery may not be 'Nubian' and the possibility remains that this was at one time an Ottoman military outpost.
 

From the early nineteenth century, the first European travellers passing through this region have left valuable accounts.  These have proved particularly useful in recording the location of several ruined settlements (otherwise undated) which we can identify today - confirming that they were already abandoned by the 1820's.

  The yard of a 19th century house in the cataract zone - traditional storage bins for dates and grain lining the wall.

Local traditions also recall considerable upheavals, famine and disruption during the late 19th century - especially during the period of the Mahdiyya.

Photographs from the early 20th century show a relatively empty landscape and the growth of settlements in recent years has been considerable.  While still relatively isolated, the area is not untouched by modern development, with the construction of new roads, new irrigation schemes - while there are (controversial) plans for a new dam/barrage across the Nile on the Third Cataract at Kajbar.

 
Nubian village, fields and date palms, below Jebel Sesi  -- the view to the north.

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