Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (13.2001(2002))

KADERO

SUDAN

NEOLITHIC BURIAL GROUND

The large pit excavated in the Neolithic
cemetery, traced NNW-SSE across the
mound, was considerably enlarged by
a series of 60 squares (each 2 by 2 m)
situated in two different locations and
extending this pit to the north and east
(Fig. 1). The total excavated area has thus
reached 240 sq. m. All the pits were
excavated to a depth of 1.2 m.
Ten Neolithic graves (nos. 237-246)
were found in effect, two (nos. 243 and
246) in squares excavated north of the pit,
clearly indicating the extent of the distri-
bution of these graves in the northern part
of the site. These two graves contained no
furnishings, but their position and various

characteristics of the skeletal remains were
typical of the Neolithic inhumations at
Kadero.
The eight remaining graves (nos. 237-
242, 244-245) were excavated in the
eastern extension of the large pit. Two of
them deserve a brief description here.
Grave No. 242, containing the remains of
a young woman, was marked by the
discovery of an elaborate decoration made
of some 300 perforated marine shells found
below the waist of the skeleton (Fig. 2). It
seems that the shells were originally
mounted as bands, each one composed of
three rows of these mollusks, perhaps
decorating a loincloth. By the face of the


Fig. 2. Rows of perforated marine shells in grave no. 24-2
(Photo L. Krzyzaniak)

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