Introduction

The project has an interdisciplinary research programme combining archaeological, historical, linguistic, folkloric and ecological research within a regional study.

The primary focus is on the Mahas Nubian area of the Nile’s Third Cataract, a region already recognised as having enjoyed a considerable significance as a cultural (including linguistic) frontier since the early medieval period, if not earlier.  This region is especially interesting in preserving many elements of a historic settlement landscape, and much of what is popularly seen as ‘traditional’ forms of Nubian culture in a Nobiin speaking environment.

The project will include a significant element of ‘Rescue’ work as well as high quality research.  Research in the area since 1990 has already begun to clarify the outlines of the settlement history of the region.  Completion of this work is increasingly urgent in the face of the construction of a new dam/barrage at Kajbar on the Third Cataract which may flood considerable areas.  Like many other areas of Sudan the region is also undergoing major transformations through more general processes of development (e.g. agricultural and settlement expansion) which is fast eroding many of the material traces of its past.
 

Archaeological Survey

The core archaeological project will focus on the study of the long-term settlement history of the region, combining survey and more detailed testing of major sites, especially those threatened by dam construction.  The region has some special research potential due to the extremely high quality of preservation of organic remains encountered here due to its extreme aridity.  The potential for, for example, archaeobotanical studies is immense, with the presence of sites spanning at least 4,000 years.

Within the general survey programme a number of key sites and research problems can already be identified.  The earliest known settlement sites include a number of Kerma period (c.2500-1500BC) settlements and cemeteries.  Further research on Pharaonic New Kingdom sites (including an important cemetery and possible fortress) at Tombos will also be undertaken to provide clarification of the nature and extent of the Egyptian presence in this area.

Previous work has indicated that Meroitic settlement was sparse in the region, with only one major site at Kedurma, albeit one still extremely well preserved.  Further testing of the site is planned.

A number of post-Meroitic sites are known at which typically ‘Nobatian’ (‘X-group’/Ballana) pottery has been recovered, representing the southernmost finds of such material.  Better definition of the cultural frontier on the cataract zone during the post-Meroitic/early medieval period will be sought.  In view of the historical evidence that this area represented the political frontier between the early Nubian kingdoms of Nobatia and Makuria, this coincidence is worthy of further study.  Possible differences in the patterning of Meroitic and post-Meroitic settlements will also be of great importance in relation to new hypotheses concerning the nature of Meroitic settlement in the north, and the agricultural colonisation of northern Nubia taking place during the mid-first millennium AD.

Limited test excavations on medieval (Christian) settlement sites will aim to explore a sample of settlements within this region.  The extent to which cultural divisions between areas north and south of the cataract continued into the medieval period, following the political integration of Nobatia and Makuria will be of particular interest.

Further work, in which integration with place-name/folklore/historical studies is expected to be particularly productive, will focus on the post-medieval (Islamic) settlement of the region.  Such research in Sudan remains poorly developed despite its great importance.  Again, this region has a special interest during this period as a frontier zone between Ottoman Lower Nubia and the Funj-controlled areas further south.  Evidence for the impact of the Mahidiyya on the region will also be of considerable interest.

Language/Toponymic Survey

Linguistic research will focus initially on continuing a toponymic survey of the type previously carried out in the Batn al-Hajar.  The first phase of the work will be to record and analyse the place-names from the Third Cataract to the Mahas/Dongolawi linguistic border with special attention to the principal archaeological sites in the region threatened by the Kajbar dam.  Further work will aim to establish present-day patterns of language use and their relationship to historical patterns as suggested by place names.   Special attention is being paid to women's perceptions of the landscape and the significance of the place-names.  An attempt is also being made to define the characteristics of place-names with a possible Meroitic origin.

Folkloric and genealogical research

Genealogical research is expected to prove a potentially productive field, both in relation to toponymy and to other forms of historical evidence for individual settlements.  More specific issues include the impact of Ottoman and other contributions to the development of modern Nubian lineages.  The particular histories of specific population sub-groups (e.g. potters, blacksmiths, boatbuilders) will be recorded.  Further folkloric investigation of traditions associated with particular sites/locations will also be undertaken, including archaeological sites.

Ecological research

In the first instance, the focus will be on extending Nubian linguistic data on the flora and fauna of the region, in turn relating to studies of ‘traditional’ farming regimes and the exploitation of other forms of resources within the region.  Such work may extend and supplement previous research by Sudanese scholars on saqia (waterwheel) agricultural systems.  This work may be integrated with archaeobotanical evidence relating to the long-term history of regional agricultural systems.

Training and development

An important part of the project will be the training and development of Sudanese researchers from the University of Khartoum.  The fieldwork seasons will aim to serve as ‘field schools’ for students as well as for developing methods and techniques for similar projects elsewhere in the Sudan in the future.

Publications

The project will publish interim reports during the three years as well as more synthetic studies at its conclusion.   We believe that it is essential that as much of this work as possible is published in both Arabic and English. It is also hoped to develop and produce practical research guides and manuals, as a contribution to supporting student training and research.  In addition to the use of traditional media, web pages such as these will be used for the wider publication of our results.   Wider dissemination of our results will also be pursued in the local communities within the project area, and, for example, in association with the planned Kerma Cultural Centre. We also hope the websites may help reach the extensive Sudanese expatriate communities who maintain an interest in cultural/heritage activities as well as a wider audience.
 

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