Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

Technological features, such as red brick
used in its construction and the external
plastering resemble materials used in the
third Cathedral (RC), which is currently
dated to the second half of the 7 th century.
The importance of B.III.l follows from
its specific location: at the edge of a rocky
elevation on the riverbank, above what is
believed to have been a private river harbor
and in front of the entrance fagade to the
palace B.I. The open character of the
structure with four arcades in the arms and
the absence of any internal furnishings
rather settles the issue against its identi-
fication as a strictly sacral structure. The
small size, on the other hand, and the
cruciform plan suggest a funerary purpose,
but as there is no recognized tomb and no
trace of a sarcophagus possibly standing in
the center space, this hypothesis has to be
discarded. It may well be that the entrance
to the crypt had been excavated in bedrock
on the west, below the foundation level of
B.III, and is now concealed under the
13th century screening wall, but this idea
remains to be tested.
Another possibility is to consider the
small domed structure on a cruciform plan
as a commemorative building marking an
event of importance for the city and the res-
idents of the palace. The presence of repre-
sentations of Nubian warriors in the vault of
the eastern arm and the fine interior
finishing, as well as systematic renovations
could suggest that we are dealing with
a commemoration of a military victory of
some kind. The date for the erection of the
building, set in the second half of the 7th
century, links the structure with the siege
laid to Dongola by Abdullahi abu Sarh in

652, after which a baqt treaty was signed
with Egypt. Thus, B.III in its initial stage
could have been a monument erected in
honor of the citadel’s defenders and to com-
memorate the signing of the treaty. It is
noteworthy that after renegotiating the
treaty with the caliphs in Baghdad in 836,
King Georgios of Makuria raised a building
commemorating his successful visit — most
likely, the Cruciform Church (CC).W> Its
monumental form of a cross with free, pro-
jecting arms would have thus referred to its
ancient predecessor, the monument B.III.l.
B.III.2
During Makuria’s wars with the Mamluk
sultans Baybar and Qalawun in the second
half of the 13th century, the Cruciform
Building was protected behind a screening
wall erected against its southern and west-
ern facades. It was subsequently severely
damaged during the siege laid to the city.
The area between B.I and B.III, in the court
(SWN.8) and inside the staircase (B.I.l),
was filled with a thick deposit containing
enormous quantities of animal bones.u)
After the situation had stabilized,
presumably in the first half of the 14th
century, the Cruciform Building was
transformed into a small church (Fig. 11).
The entrances in the eastern, northern and
western arms were blocked, leaving only
one door from the south. The floor level
was raised by 40 cm and a new brick
paving was introduced. Just in front of the
passage from the central space to the
eastern arcade a high altar screen was
constructed, providing only a narrow
entrance to the sanctuary. The interior was
coated with a new mud plaster and

10) W. Godlewski, “The Cruciform Church at Old Dongola (Sudan). Some Comments”, in: Coptic Studies, ed. W. Godlewski
(Warsaw 1990), 127-137.
11) For a summary report on this and other osteological remains from the site, cf. contribution by M. Osypinska in this
volume.

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