Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

FOURTH CATARACT

SUDAN

head to the southwest and facing west. On
the other hand, the cluster of graves coded
2, 3 and 4, yielded a varied assemblage of
potsherds ranging from the Neolithic
(90%) to the Kerma and Christian periods.
Grave 4, marked by a cairn of stones c. 3 m
in diameter, proved interesting, because of
the unusual burial. Two children had been
laid to rest on their backs with outstretched
legs, heads pointing in opposite directions,
to north and south, and faces respectively to
east and west [Fig. 11}.
Saffi 68 was located on a rocky elevation
in the southeastern part of the island above
the landing place opposite Uli Island.
Beneath five of the round stone graves

disarticulated and eroded skeletons were
found, inhumed in contracted position
without any fixed orientation. The 'grave'
under one of the stone rings proved to be
filled with sand and stones (it had never
been used as a tomb and was never breached
by robbers).
The nearby site of Saffi 66 consisted of
three stone rings and an extensive surface
collection of Neolithic potsherds and
disarticulated human bones, presumably
left by the plunderers.
CHRISTIAN REMAINS
None of many Christian cemeteries was
tested. The surface ceramics, orientation and


0 5 I Ocm
i_i-1

Fig. 10. Imported Egyptian vessels from graves 2, 6 and 7 at Saffi 23
(Drawing M. Orzecbowska/E. Klimaszewska-Drabot)

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