Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (10.1998(1999))

DONGOLA REACH_

SUDAN

Napatan. The sistrum handle (from a well-
defined context) in the shape of a nude girl
with raised hands supporting a frieze
topped by a squatting cat also should be
designated as Napatan (Fig. 6).
Bronze objects are abundant at Soniyat.
The chemical composition of the alloy in
general complies with results obtained
from the Kawan bronzes. Analyses made at
the Central Laboratory of the Institute of
Archaeology and Ethnology, Polish
Academy of Sciences in Warsaw, reveal the
following. The sistrum handle is cast of
a bronze with 12% tin and a considerable,
practically 3% content of lead. A similar

composition is revealed by the Osiris fig-
ure (SDRS 36/98). The other bronze
objects tested are cast in bronze having
a much lower percentage of tin, less than
6%, down to 1.94%. Gold is low, less than
0.4%, same as arsenic which reaches
a maximum level of 0.65% in the small
Osiris figure (SDRS 41/98).19)
The numerous fragments of animal fig-
ures found in the temple were made of
stone-hard terracotta burned to dark
brown and then gilded. The terracotta face
(SDRS 19/98, Fig. 7) was hand-modeled in
drying clay. After firing, it was painted
with a green paint resembling copper

Fig. 6. Sistrum handle (SDRS 46/98)
(Drawing P. Terendy)


The analyses (Nos. CL 11767 to 11772) were carried out by Mrs. E. Pawlicka in an EDS spectrometer.

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