Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

FOURTH CATARACT

SUDAN

The survey in the Gamamiya district
revealed sites from all archaeological periods.
Rock art proved the most interesting despite
being difficult to date, especially site GM67
which is a gallery of pictures executed in
different techniques. Among the images of
wild animals (giraffes, lion, gazelle,
antelopes), domesticated species (mainly
cattle) and humans there is a unique panel
depicting a parade of men in skirts and
ostrich feathers on their heads, carrying sticks
or clubs, leading a herd of short-horned cattle
and accompanied by dogs [Fig. 2\. The
dominating species in the petroglyphs, also at
GM67, is long-horned cattle, often showing
all kinds of horn deformation.
Scattered lithics and Neolithic pottery
have been noted at a few sites, usually on the
river terrace, in conjunction with later
remains.
Sites attributed to the Kerma Horizon
were the most numerous. These were mostly
small stone tumuli located on the summits of
the first line of rocky hills by the river terrace.

The cemeteries counted from one to dozens of
tumuli. Two sites estimated as representative
of this kind, GM19 and GM55, were tested
(see separate reports on the excavations by
P. Osypihski and on the pottery by
D. Bagihska in this volume).
Two or three late Meroitic/post-Meroitic
cemeteries were discovered: GM14 (recorded
in February 2007 by ethnographer P. Malihski


Fig. 1. Sandstone capital from the ruins at site
GM52 (Photo P. Osypinski)


Fig 2. Rock art panelfrom the ‘'gallery” at the GM67 site
(Photo E. Kuciewicz)

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Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007