Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (18.2006(2008))

MtoM - MEROWE SHERIQ, TANQASI, ZUMA

SUDAN

MtoM
EARLY MAKURIA RESEARCH PROJECT,
SEASON 2006

Wiodzimierz Godlewski

Project MtoM focuses on a study of the beginnings of the Kingdom of Makuria in the region
between the Third and Fourth Nile Cataracts, in an effort to identify the nature of social
changes occurring in the area in the 4th and 5 th centuries. A core issue of the program is the
process and circumstances of the transformation of Meroitic into Makurian society
(Godlewski 2007). The first step in the project was the excavation and documentation season
at el-Zuma in December 2004 - January 2005 (El-Tayeb 2001a; 2007b; Obluski 2007;
Osypinska 2007).
The present season lasted from 15 January to 22 February, 2006. The Project
concentrated on: 1) research and mapping of the architectural complex at Merowe Sheriq,
including fortifications, town with partly preserved wall and well, and cemetery; 2)
mapping survey and testing at the Tanqasi burial ground; 3) some additional mapping at
the el-Zuma cemetery. An opportunity afforded itself to make a photographic record of the
fortifications at Bakhit and el-Deigad
The theory behind the archaeological topographical mapping is presented by
W. Malkowski in a separate contribution below, in this volume.

1 The team was headed by Wiodzimierz Godlewski and comprised: Mahmoud El-Tayeb, co-director; Anna Blaszczyk,
archaeologist; Edyta Klimaszewska-Drabot, archaeologist-ceramologist; Wiesiaw Malkowski archaeologist-surveyor;
Bartosz Wojciechowski, student of archaeology from the University of Warsaw. The NCAM was represented by Sami
Mohamed el-Amin whose all-encompassing assistance permitted effective and successful work.

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