Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

SHEMKHIYA

SUDAN

tations of giraffes {Fig. 3, top left] and
a doubtful drawing of an elephant and
antelope, a single bird drawing (ostrich or
bustard), six crosses with one evidently
Coptic in overall appearance (and another
potential one), six “stars” and a single
human figure interpreted possibly as
a shaman {Fig. 3, top right], two inscrip-
tions in Arabic and a few dozen most
frequently unfinished images which are
difficult to identify.
Site KP 36 is an exceptional assemblage
comprising a number of rock boulders
covered with glyphs (for location, see Fig. 3
on p. 437). One of the rocks has a lateral
surface, measuring 4.50 by 1.80 m, covered
with four rows of damaged and super-
imposed drawings {Fig. 3, bottom], A rock
gong was also found nearby. The ico-
nographical program of this assemblage is
extremely complicated.
While more analysis of the uncovered
material is required, the following pre-

liminary conclusions can be formed. The
variety of stylization, techniques of
execution and superposition of images
differing between themselves in terms of
technique and style points to a temporal
continuity of this group of rock-art sites.
Successive human groups apparently made
use of the same places, often intentionally
transforming existing drawings. The said
variety suggests a cultural difference
between particular groups. Detailed
dating requires comparative analyses, but
even so, the total absence of wild game
indicates that the glyphs cannot be earlier
than the late Neolithic; the sequence of
cows altered into camels leaves little
doubt about later continuation. The few
unquestionable signs of a cross and
contemporary, surely modern, Arabic
inscriptions are proof of a lasting tradition.
The presence of numerous stone punches
stuck into cracks in the rock near glyphs is
noteworthy.

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