DOI issue:
Sudan
DOI article:Godlewski, Włodzimierz: Old Dongola: Kom A, 1999
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.41274#0207
OLD DONGOLA
SUDAN
tions" of the late 13th century. Nonetheless,
since the brick and stone structures were
repeatedly rebuilt and consist of many
occupational stages, it is difficult to pro-
pose any binding interpretation of the
uncovered remains. What appears obvious
is that the structures (fortifications?)
mark the southern extent of urban archi-
tecture on Kom A.
Some 85 m north of the wall fragment
identified in trial pit SW.S, on the sandy
river bank, another trial pit was excavated
(SW.N) clearing the wall tops of an exten-
sive structure, as well as the southwestern
entrance to it that led from the river side.
It was an artfully designed building with
Fig. 7. Plate with a nursing gazelle pictured
on the floor (Photo W. Godlewski)
red brick used for the outer facade walls
and vaults, and mudbrick for the interior
walls and for the cores of walls. This kind
of mixed wall-building technique charac-
terized by a structural use of red bricks
had been employed in the erection of the
Building with Throne Hall (the so-called
Mosque) in Dongola.9) The riverine gate
of the structure was found to be 110 cm
wide; it was constructed of sandstone
blocks and crowned with an arch of regu-
lar voussoir stones (Fig. 6) The construc-
tion recalls the entrance to Church at
Wadi es-Sebua and may be dated to the
7th century. The gate led to a monumen-
tal staircase, 1.45 m wide, supported on
a red-brick vault, which is hardly com-
mon in Nubian architecture. The interior
of the building was finely plastered and
whitewashed. The evidence suggests that
the upper floor of the building has been
preserved at least in part. For now only
the south end with walls some 5.00 m
high has been recorded provisionally. It is
too early to discuss possible dating sug-
gestions, but it is most certainly early and
may be attributed to sometime in the 7th
century. Neither is the function of the
building already apparent, but there is
little doubt that it is one of the most
important residential complexes discov-
ered so far in Dongola. It may be pre-
sumed to be an extensive palace erected
on a rocky riverbank with a gate leading
to the harbor (river port).
In the light of the investigations car-
ried out so far, the fortified settlement at
Dongola covered an area of c. 57,000 m2,
extending over a rocky outcrop that fell
steeply to the river below.10) The fortifica-
tions were designed to defend the settle-
W. Godlewski, S. Medeksza, "The so-called Mosque building in Old Dongola (Sudan). A Structural Analysis", ANM
(1987), 185-205.
10) W. Godlewski, "The City of Dongola before the Arab raid of 651/2", African Reports, II (in press).
205
SUDAN
tions" of the late 13th century. Nonetheless,
since the brick and stone structures were
repeatedly rebuilt and consist of many
occupational stages, it is difficult to pro-
pose any binding interpretation of the
uncovered remains. What appears obvious
is that the structures (fortifications?)
mark the southern extent of urban archi-
tecture on Kom A.
Some 85 m north of the wall fragment
identified in trial pit SW.S, on the sandy
river bank, another trial pit was excavated
(SW.N) clearing the wall tops of an exten-
sive structure, as well as the southwestern
entrance to it that led from the river side.
It was an artfully designed building with
Fig. 7. Plate with a nursing gazelle pictured
on the floor (Photo W. Godlewski)
red brick used for the outer facade walls
and vaults, and mudbrick for the interior
walls and for the cores of walls. This kind
of mixed wall-building technique charac-
terized by a structural use of red bricks
had been employed in the erection of the
Building with Throne Hall (the so-called
Mosque) in Dongola.9) The riverine gate
of the structure was found to be 110 cm
wide; it was constructed of sandstone
blocks and crowned with an arch of regu-
lar voussoir stones (Fig. 6) The construc-
tion recalls the entrance to Church at
Wadi es-Sebua and may be dated to the
7th century. The gate led to a monumen-
tal staircase, 1.45 m wide, supported on
a red-brick vault, which is hardly com-
mon in Nubian architecture. The interior
of the building was finely plastered and
whitewashed. The evidence suggests that
the upper floor of the building has been
preserved at least in part. For now only
the south end with walls some 5.00 m
high has been recorded provisionally. It is
too early to discuss possible dating sug-
gestions, but it is most certainly early and
may be attributed to sometime in the 7th
century. Neither is the function of the
building already apparent, but there is
little doubt that it is one of the most
important residential complexes discov-
ered so far in Dongola. It may be pre-
sumed to be an extensive palace erected
on a rocky riverbank with a gate leading
to the harbor (river port).
In the light of the investigations car-
ried out so far, the fortified settlement at
Dongola covered an area of c. 57,000 m2,
extending over a rocky outcrop that fell
steeply to the river below.10) The fortifica-
tions were designed to defend the settle-
W. Godlewski, S. Medeksza, "The so-called Mosque building in Old Dongola (Sudan). A Structural Analysis", ANM
(1987), 185-205.
10) W. Godlewski, "The City of Dongola before the Arab raid of 651/2", African Reports, II (in press).
205