Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (17.2005(2007))

FOURTH CATARACT - HAGAR EL-BEIDA

SUDAN

recorded only in the northern part of the
structure, 0.20 m below ground surface.
A small red bowl with polished surface
stood by the head of the skeleton which lay
in a contracted position on its right side in
a shallow pit (1.42 by 0.85 m, max. 0.55 m
deep) excavated in bedrock The head
pointed northeast and laced north; the
hands were folded together under the right
cheek {Fig. 2]. Two gold earrings, made of
circular wire, were found with the burial.
A single circle of stones marked the
position of Tumulus 168 (Dia. 2.65 m;
D. 0.70 m). Large rock fragments forming
the covering of the grave pit were registered
at a depth of 0.34 m. A small rock-cut ledge
appeared in the southwestern part. The
burial had been plundered; human bones,

dyed leather pieces and a pot, as well as
broken potsherds were discovered in the fill.
The pottery from the graves is typically red,
often with black-topped rim, the surface
either smooth or polished. Ornaments
include engraved lines (horizontal, dia-
gonal, hatched) and characteristic punc-
tured dots. It is characteristic of Kerma-
Horizon wares (although the surface col-
lection contained some Neolithic fragments
as well).
Surface finds from the neighborhood of
T168 included two oval, flattened objects of
hard stone (10 by 7.5 cm; 2.5-3 cm thick)
bearing curious decoration in the form of
transverse grooves, four in one case and two
in the other [Fig. 3}. The function of these
two objects remains a mystery.

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