Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (14.2002(2003))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

EXCAVATIONS IN THE MONASTERY IN THE 35th SEASON
(2002)

There were three objects of exploration
within the area of the monastic compound
on Kom H (Fig. 1 and Plan /):5) the North-
western Cemetery (TNWH) by the
western facade of the Northwest Annex to

the Monastery; the western part of the
Main Monastery Building (NW-E)
including the southwestern part of the
adjoining Northwest Annex and, finally,
the Monastery Church (HC).6)

NORTHWESTERN CEMETERY (TNWH)

A further part of the Northwestern
Cemetery west of the Annex was cleared7)
uncovering eight tomb superstructures of
the mastaba type founded on bedrock in two
rows following a N-S axis. The box-like
superstructures, unfortunately preserved to
a height of no more than 30 cm, were built
of bricks, both fired and unfired, and filled
with rubble. They varied in size from 2.20
by 1.10 m to 2.50 by 1.20 m. Remnants of
hard gravel-lime plaster occurred on some of
them, no doubt originally covering the
entire surface of the structures. The more
interesting finds, however, came from the
thick superimposed stratum formed of
rubble quite obviously from the upper story
of the Monastery. The debris yielded
fragments of terracotta window grilles or
screens, some of these finely carved and

painted. Four such grilles or screens could
be restored using also fragments found
previously at the site. In one case (Fig. 2)
two cocks are shown flanking a column and
on the arched frame above them there is
a painted dedicatory inscription of an
archpresbyter and archistylites. The term
xpxHCTyAiTHc8) is attested here for the first
time in full, having occurred before in texts
from Dongola solely in abbreviated form.
The proper name is missing, yet there is
a good deal of likelihood, judging by the as-
sociation of titles, that the person referred to
in this inscription was Georgios (retupr),
later bishop and archbishop of Dongola, the
man who according to other evidence was
responsible for an extensive rebuilding of
the Annex in the second half of the 11th
century.

5) For previous reports, cf. S. Jakobielski, PAM IV, Reports 1992 (1993), 102-106; PAM V, Reports 1993 (1994), 115-126;
PAM VI, Reports 1994 (1995), 84-92; PAM VII, Reports 1995 (1996), 105-113; PAM VIII, Reports 1996 (1997), 161-168;
PAM IX, Reports 1997 (1998), 160-169; PAM X, Reports 1998 (1999), 137-147; PAM XII, Reports 2000 (2001), 265-279,
therein (note 3 on page 267) further bibliography concerning the site. The most recent studies of the Monastery are to be
found in: Dongola-Studien, 35 Jahre der polnischen Forschungen in Zentrum des makuritischen Reiches, eds. S. Jakobielski
and P.O. Scholz, Bibliotheca nubica et athiopica VII (Warsaw 2001); cf. also A. Lajtar, “Heb 5.4 in a graffito in the Western
Annex of the Monastery on Kom H at Old Dongola”, EtTrav 19 (2001), 209-215; M. Martens-Czarnecka, “Suggestions on
dating of some murals from the Monastery in Old Dongola”, EtTrav 19 (2001), 217-236; M. Martens-Czarnecka, “Old
Dongola's share in Nubian painting”, in: Studia Archaeologica, Uniwersytet Jagiellonski, Prace dedykowane Profesorowi
Januszowi A. Ostrowskiemu, eds. E. Papuci-Wladyka, J. Sliwa (Krakow 2001), 287-302.
6) See contribution by D. Gazda in this volume. Mr. Gazda supervised the work there during this and the successive
season.
7) For a previously explored part of the cemetery, see especially B. Zurawski, “The Monastery on Kom H in Old Dongola.
The Monks' graves”, Nubica et Aethiopica IV/V (Warsaw 1999), 238-244, and id., “Old Dongola. Cemeteries 1995”, PAM
VII, op. cit, 127-135.
8) .JiTx ^ KI3-1 i-PlXH cty^.hthc: For a discussion of the term, cf. A. Lajtar & K. Pluskota, “Inscribed vessels from
the Monastery of the Holy Trinity at Old Dongola”, in: Dongola-Studien, op. cit., 348-349- A new suggestion, for which
I am indebted to Prof. Georgios Moschonas, the current Greek Ambassador in Sudan, is to interpret this term as “chief
librarian of the monastery”.

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