Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (16.2004(2005))

FOURTH CATARACT - ULI ISLAND

SUDAN

reused for burial in Christian times. Inside
the stone ring, a low rectangular structure
was observed. The body had been buried in
a shallow pit, lying on its back, hands on
the pelvis, the head oriented to the west.
Most of the tombs on the smaller plateau
in the southern part of the island were situ-
ated in the shadow of monumental rocks,
sometimes in groups of 3-4 tombs. One of
the more fully investigated grave sites there
was Uli 23. The stone cairns were mostly
circular '(although a few rectangular ones
were observed), running from c. 1.50 to
2.00 m across and preserved to a height of
0.40 m [Fig. 3}. Often they were flat in the
center and filled in with sand. The pits were
shallow, either circular or rectangular, lined
with slabs and filled in with dust [Fig. 4}.
Wherever found undisturbed (most were
definitely penetrated, although rather by
animals than by humans), the skeletons were
in contracted position with heads turned

either to the north or to the south.
Exceptions included graves T. 10 and T.ll
in this cluster, where the heads pointed
respectively to the east and west, and T.6,
where the head was to the north but the
body was extended on its back. Obviously,
there were no strictly enforced customs de-


Fig. 5. Black-tapped wheel-made howl from
grave U23.T.1 (Photo A. Obluski)


Fig. 6. Site Uli 24. Tumuli 1-3
(Photo W. Godlewski)

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