Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (15.2003(2004))

OLD DONGOLA

SUDAN

THIRD LAYER OF LIME PLASTER

The preserved sequence of plaster coats in
the corners of the western arm indicates
that at least in the part of the walls under
the spring of the vault, the decoration on
the third layer of plaster repeated that
from the second. In fragments of the
sequence found in the fill, apparently
belonging to the decoration above the
illusionist part, the same was not always
found to be true.

Thick pieces of plaster are characteristic
of the layer. Found in the fill, they reveal
plastic decoration grooved and incised in
the still wet plaster to emphasize the edges
of some forms (like wings) or the feather
arrangement (rhythmic pattern of small
dashes) {Fig. 6). The fourth layer of plaster
that is discernible on these fragments
appears to repeat these divisions (albeit only
in the painted decoration).

FOURTH LAYER OF MUD PLASTER


Fig. 6. Examples of grooved decoration on the
third layer of plaster
(Photo D. Zielihska)

The fourth plaster coating was introduced
after the building was reconstructed as
a small church. It did not take into
consideration the earlier plastic decoration
(friezes modeled in the plaster of layer III),
although the painted decoration appears to
repeat some of the divisions of the earlier
layer (lines at the edge of the wings). The
altered function drew a change of the
interior decoration, which now took on
many elements typical of Nubian churches.
Fragments of an apse composition (P2 in
Fig. 1) were preserved on the east and south
walls of the eastern arm. On the east wall
and a part of the north wall of the northern
arm, there was a multi-figure narrative
representation, most likely the Nativity
(identification confirmed also by the
characteristic localization) (P3, P4). The
two compositions were divided and planned
on neighboring parts of walls, which was
typical of the late period in Nubian
painting and dictated by the considerably
smaller dimensions of the complexes built
at the time.® (It also indicates that the

6) Apse and Nativity Compositions in Kulubnarti: W.Y. Adams, Kulubnarti I, The Architectural Remains (Kentucky 1994); apse com-
position in Adendan: LI. Griffith, “Oxford Excavations in Nubia”, LAAA XIV (1927), 112, pi. LXXV,3,4; apses in the New Church and
Central Church at Serre East: id., “Oxford Excavations in Nubia”, LAAA X-XI (1926), 99-101,113, pi. LXXVII,3, LXXIX,2,3;
J. Kundstad, “Serra East and Dorginarti. Preliminary report on the 1963-64 excavations of the University of Chicago Oriental Institute
Sudan Expedition”, Kush 14 (1966), 168-169; the Nativity in Abdel Gadir: W.v.Fr. Bissing, “Die Kirche von Abd el Gadir bei Wadi Haifa
und ihre Wandmalerein”, MDAIK1 (1937), 128-183; LI. Griffith, “Oxford Excavations in Nubia”, LAAA XV, 3-4 (1928), 73-76.

220