Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (11.1999(2000))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

ment only on the landside — from the
north, east and south. The rocky river-
bank was defended merely by spot defens-
es — in 1990 a tower was uncovered in the
northern end of the stretch. A look at the
riverbank and the architecture identified
so far indicates that two small river har-
bors should be expected on the banks.
The northern one, which was presumably
the bigger one, was located in a natural
bay; from the north it was protected by an
artificial platform. The southern bay
could have been more of a small private
haven and was presumably connected
with the building from trial pit SW.N.
A survey of the area between the ports


indicates that the rocky shore between the
ports was the site of some extensive struc-
tures that could have constituted a com-
plex of royal palaces. The site was natu-
rally defended and there was no need for
fortifications on the riverside to block the
view or limit the open space in any way.
These buildings were probably separated
from the remaining structures inside the
fortifications. The post-Makurian archi-
tecture developed mostly near the outer
fortifications; the buildings of this time
in the western part of the town, where we
would like to locate the royal palaces, are
scarce and on the most part easily traced
on the surface today.


Fig. 8. Two-sided wooden seal
(Photo W. Godlewski)

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