DOI issue:
Sudan
DOI article:Osypiński, Piotr: Es-Sadda 1 excavations of a post-meroitic cemetery (two seasons)
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42091#0360
FOURTH CATARACT - ES-SADDA
SUDAN
semblages of pottery (beer jars, bottles, pots
and bowls) and meat offerings (usually of
small ruminants). Small ceramic (including
wheel-made) and bronze vessels were placed
next to the body, as were also leather bags
(quivers?) and weapons, such as spears and
arrows with iron heads.
Interestingly, nearly all the graves of
categories 1 and 3 above were covered with
Type IV and IVa mounds, either iarge or
medium-sized {cf. Fig. 3]- Coupled with the
characteristic dislodgment and dispersal of
body remains, this could suggest some sort
of connection between these two grave
types. The poor niche graves (category 2
above) were covered with different kinds of
mounds, all of which, however, were
medium-sized. This denotes a great degree
of variability of visible superstructures of
otherwise identical graves.
To recapitulate, the dead buried in the
tumuli graves of Group I at Es-Sadda 1
received rich grave offerings. This is unlike
other parts of the site where investigations
have not confirmed this practice. The
collected samples will give a better
understanding of the nature of the burials,
their age (absolute as well as in relation to
burials from other groups) and family
relationship. Also, anthropological studies
of the population and individual aspects
offer a promising research perspective.
FALL SEASON 2005
The area surveyed in the fall season [cf. Fig. 1}
was strewn with stones and full of sand-
filled hollows. Post-Meroitic pottery sherds
were also registered. In order to reveal all
the features and verify whether the stone
scatters were actually remains of destroyed
superstructures, the primary substrate (silt)
was cleared on an area of c. 430 m2 in total
{Figs 8, 9]. No tangible proof of large
mounds covering the graves was forth-
Fig. 9- General view of the excavated area from the west
(Photo L. Gauza) )
35 6
SUDAN
semblages of pottery (beer jars, bottles, pots
and bowls) and meat offerings (usually of
small ruminants). Small ceramic (including
wheel-made) and bronze vessels were placed
next to the body, as were also leather bags
(quivers?) and weapons, such as spears and
arrows with iron heads.
Interestingly, nearly all the graves of
categories 1 and 3 above were covered with
Type IV and IVa mounds, either iarge or
medium-sized {cf. Fig. 3]- Coupled with the
characteristic dislodgment and dispersal of
body remains, this could suggest some sort
of connection between these two grave
types. The poor niche graves (category 2
above) were covered with different kinds of
mounds, all of which, however, were
medium-sized. This denotes a great degree
of variability of visible superstructures of
otherwise identical graves.
To recapitulate, the dead buried in the
tumuli graves of Group I at Es-Sadda 1
received rich grave offerings. This is unlike
other parts of the site where investigations
have not confirmed this practice. The
collected samples will give a better
understanding of the nature of the burials,
their age (absolute as well as in relation to
burials from other groups) and family
relationship. Also, anthropological studies
of the population and individual aspects
offer a promising research perspective.
FALL SEASON 2005
The area surveyed in the fall season [cf. Fig. 1}
was strewn with stones and full of sand-
filled hollows. Post-Meroitic pottery sherds
were also registered. In order to reveal all
the features and verify whether the stone
scatters were actually remains of destroyed
superstructures, the primary substrate (silt)
was cleared on an area of c. 430 m2 in total
{Figs 8, 9]. No tangible proof of large
mounds covering the graves was forth-
Fig. 9- General view of the excavated area from the west
(Photo L. Gauza) )
35 6