By the end of the Meroitic period (c.300-350 CE), the one major settlement in the region (at Kedurma) appears to have been abandoned. As yet, no sites datable to the fourth or early fifth centuries have been identified in the region. However, by the later post-Meroitic period (c.500 CE +) evidence for settlement at a number of sites can be identified. As in earlier periods, the Third Cataract seems to have marked a significant frontier zone during this period and probably marked the boundary between the northern kingdom of Nobatia and Makuria, centred in the Dongola Reach to the south.

This frontier is reflected archaeologically in the types of post-Meroitic pottery found here.  It follows the pattern of material found further north in Lower Nubia ('X-Group' or 'Ballana' pottery) - but this tradition of wheelmade pottery does not occur further south than the Third Cataract.  Such material has been found as far south as Simit island.Post-Meroitic pottery further south was almost entirely handmade until perhaps the 6th century, and is easily distinguishable from pottery made further north.

Jebel Sesi - Sesibi

One major new settlement seems to have been founded relatively late in the post-Meroitic period at Jebel Sesi, several km north of Kedurma on the west bank, opposite the modern town of Delgo. Located just to the north of the important New Kingdom foundation of Sesibi, this site lies in an area with relatively abundant agricultural land.  The settlement probably remained a major centre during the medieval and post-medieval periods.
 

The shift in settlement location may relate to more general patterns seen in this period, where we seem to see the emergence of a settlement landscape, based on irrigated (saqia) agriculture, during the post-Meroitic and early medieval period - the establishment of the 'traditional' Nubian landscape which survived into modern times.
 

Post-Meroitic cemeteries are generally marked by prominent tumuli - earth mounds with a ring of small stones around their sides. The largest cemetery of this date lies below Jebel Sesi - one grave was excavated here in 1937. Some further large tumuli lie a litle to the north of the hill in the village of Handikka.  For a report on the Sesi excavation

Another small tumulus cemetery is located at Kadein, a few miles south of Kedurma. Surface sherds indicate a similarly late post-Meroitic date, with the small cemetery probably continuing to be used for Christian burials.  Following the conversion of this part of Nubia to Christianity - during the sixth century - such burial tumuli gradually went out of fashion, although examples are known of otherwise 'Christian' burials still being marked by such mounds. Some small clusters of other tumuli have been located near the south end of the cataract region, one near Hannek, and another at Fogo (both sites on the west bank).