Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

FOURTH CATARACT - HAGAR EL-BEIDA

SUDAN

Table 2. Preliminary classification of tumuli from the Ha gar el-Beida 1 site

Tumulus
HB1/T5
HB1/T6
HB1/T7
HB1/T9
Superstructure
Type 1
Type 2
Type 1
Type 2
Shaft
Type I
Type II
Type II
Type II
Burial chamber
Variant B
Variant A
Variant B
Variant B

LOCATION OF CEMETERY
AND DISTRIBUTION OF BURIALS
It is difficult to say whether the choice of
location on the FIB1 cemetery was
determined by burial tradition more than
practical considerations, but the
topographical setting seems to play an
important role, since — typically of Late
Meroitic and Post-Meroitic tradition — the
E1B1 cemetery was located on flat, sandy
ground.
Although it must be stressed that using
the terms "rich" and "poor" with reference to
the burials on the site of FFagar el-Beida 1
should be rather conservative and symbolic
in character, the stone-kerbed super-
structures can be associated with a relatively
more plentiful choice of grave goods, since
both of the Type 2 tumuli were un-
doubtedly better furnished, while those
identified as pure-gravel mounds of Type 1
contained little more than a few vessels
each. Moreover, in graves of Type 2, some
vessels were probably intentionally placed
on top of the blocking in the shaft: wheel-
made cup in FIB 1-T9 and two broken
vessels (broken ritually?) in FIB1-T6. This
practice has been considered as part of the
funeral rituals revived in the Fourth
Cataract area in Late Meroitic times.8

The "richly" furnished grave T9 seems
to have played a specific role, perhaps in-
terpreted as a kind of satellite burial,
forming a larger funerary complex together
with the dominant "royal tumulus" [Fig.l},
located at a distance of no more than 25 m
to the north. However, since no other
satellite superstructure or remains of one
have been noted during a thorough survey
of the area, there is no evidence for the
existence of a hypothetical zone reserved
for the tribal elite, buried in the vicinity of
their ruler's tomb.
GRAVE FURNISHING
AND CHRONOLOGY
Regardless of the tumuli's state of
preservation, the total number and variety
of grave goods retrieved from the tumuli is
relatively poor, seemingly in contrast to the
laboriousness and size of the super-
structures. Metal objects are apparently
unpopular as a category, even compared to
similarly dated cemeteries in the area (i.e.,
Hagar el-Beida 2 and Es-Sadda 1).
Dominating the few finds of metal were
nondescript iron implements, too corroded
for reconstruction, probably arrowheads or
knife blades. Faience, glazed and stone
beads, as well as ostrich eggshell and bone

8 M. El-Tayeb, E. Kolosowska, "Burial traditions on the right bank of the Nile in the Fourth Cataract region", GAMAR
4 (2005), 66.

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