DOI issue:
Sudan
DOI article:Bagińska, Dobiesława: Kerma horizon pottery from the cemeteries in el-Gamamiya
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.42093#0413
FOURTH CATARACT
SUDAN
related to the manner of firing (Gratien
1978: 226-228). The chin-walled assemblage
from graves T.l, T.2, T.ll, represents quality
wares modeled on the production originating
from the pottery center at Kerma (as
indicated by the specific character of the
products, their form and decoration) in the
Kerma Classique period.
The tulip-shaped vase from grave T.12
[Fig. 2,n\ is also an important chronological
indicator, dating the tomb and its content
to the Kerma Classique period (Gratien
1986: 12, 292-293, Fig. 236/b-c).
The authors observations made on the
ceramic material coming from the PCM A
survey in 2007 of the districts of El-
Gamamiya, El-Ar and Keheili leaves no
doubt as to the predominance of Kerma-
period wares in this part of the Fourth
Cataract (next to the Christian and Islamic
pottery assemblages collected from the
region). This is proof of intensive Kerma
Culture settlement of the area, already
suggested by the extensive pottery finds
from tumuli of Kerma date made by the
GAME expedition from Gdansk at
Wad Umm Rahau, El Argub, Abu Haraz
(El-Tayeb, Kolosowska 2005: 53-60,
Fig. 9/a-b,e). Identical Kerma material was
CATALOGUE OF
GM55: TOMB T.l
1. Bowl [Fig. l3a], decorated with a molded
relief band under the rim; exterior dark
brown, interior black.
2. Bowl [Fig. l,b\, profiled black-topped
rim with orange band below; exterior red,
interior black (polished surface, glossy).
3. Bowl [Fig. l,c\, undecorated, black-
topped rim, grayish-orange discoloration
below it on the exterior.
4. Bowl [Fig. l,d\, hemispherical, rounded
recorded also by the SARS Anglo-German
Survey in the Fourth Cataract area (Pawel
Wolf, pers. comm.).
In turn, the highly specific engraved
decoration and intentionally blackened top,
characteristic of Pan-Grave culture, are
known also from Sayala in northern Nubia
(Bietak 1966; Sadr 1987: Fig. 4/type: aa,
bb) and from sites in the southern desert
regions (Erkowit, Khor Arbaat, Agordat,
Kassala, Southern Atbai). Pottery of this
type is known from the Nile Valley from
Asyut through the region of the Second
Cataract (Sadr 1987: 265-267, Fig. 1). The
presence of this kind of pottery in the graves
at El-Gamamiya is proof of contacts with,
perhaps even settlement in the Fourth
Cataract area of a Pan-Grave population
which is identified with the Medjay (Sadr
1987: 265-269; Trigger 1976: 104; Adams
1977: 215; Save-Soderbergh 1941: 139).
The pottery assemblage from the
two cemeteries excavated this season in
El-Gamamiya by a Polish team has
provided the grounds for dating the burials
to 2100-1500 BC. It has also contributed
to the overall knowledge of the character of
Kerma ceramics in the Fourth Cataract
region in the period in question.
POTTERY FINDS
rim, black-topped with an orange band
underlining it.
5. Large bowl [Fig. l,e\, hemispherical,
profiled yellow-topped rim; oblique
incisions in a band under the rim and
engraved motif centrally on the underside.
6. Bowl [Fig. lj\, profiled black-topped
rim, criss-cross pattern in a band below it.
7. Small bowl [Fig. l,g), fragment, incurved
rim; brown exterior, band of engraved criss-
cross pattern under the rim.
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007
407
SUDAN
related to the manner of firing (Gratien
1978: 226-228). The chin-walled assemblage
from graves T.l, T.2, T.ll, represents quality
wares modeled on the production originating
from the pottery center at Kerma (as
indicated by the specific character of the
products, their form and decoration) in the
Kerma Classique period.
The tulip-shaped vase from grave T.12
[Fig. 2,n\ is also an important chronological
indicator, dating the tomb and its content
to the Kerma Classique period (Gratien
1986: 12, 292-293, Fig. 236/b-c).
The authors observations made on the
ceramic material coming from the PCM A
survey in 2007 of the districts of El-
Gamamiya, El-Ar and Keheili leaves no
doubt as to the predominance of Kerma-
period wares in this part of the Fourth
Cataract (next to the Christian and Islamic
pottery assemblages collected from the
region). This is proof of intensive Kerma
Culture settlement of the area, already
suggested by the extensive pottery finds
from tumuli of Kerma date made by the
GAME expedition from Gdansk at
Wad Umm Rahau, El Argub, Abu Haraz
(El-Tayeb, Kolosowska 2005: 53-60,
Fig. 9/a-b,e). Identical Kerma material was
CATALOGUE OF
GM55: TOMB T.l
1. Bowl [Fig. l3a], decorated with a molded
relief band under the rim; exterior dark
brown, interior black.
2. Bowl [Fig. l,b\, profiled black-topped
rim with orange band below; exterior red,
interior black (polished surface, glossy).
3. Bowl [Fig. l,c\, undecorated, black-
topped rim, grayish-orange discoloration
below it on the exterior.
4. Bowl [Fig. l,d\, hemispherical, rounded
recorded also by the SARS Anglo-German
Survey in the Fourth Cataract area (Pawel
Wolf, pers. comm.).
In turn, the highly specific engraved
decoration and intentionally blackened top,
characteristic of Pan-Grave culture, are
known also from Sayala in northern Nubia
(Bietak 1966; Sadr 1987: Fig. 4/type: aa,
bb) and from sites in the southern desert
regions (Erkowit, Khor Arbaat, Agordat,
Kassala, Southern Atbai). Pottery of this
type is known from the Nile Valley from
Asyut through the region of the Second
Cataract (Sadr 1987: 265-267, Fig. 1). The
presence of this kind of pottery in the graves
at El-Gamamiya is proof of contacts with,
perhaps even settlement in the Fourth
Cataract area of a Pan-Grave population
which is identified with the Medjay (Sadr
1987: 265-269; Trigger 1976: 104; Adams
1977: 215; Save-Soderbergh 1941: 139).
The pottery assemblage from the
two cemeteries excavated this season in
El-Gamamiya by a Polish team has
provided the grounds for dating the burials
to 2100-1500 BC. It has also contributed
to the overall knowledge of the character of
Kerma ceramics in the Fourth Cataract
region in the period in question.
POTTERY FINDS
rim, black-topped with an orange band
underlining it.
5. Large bowl [Fig. l,e\, hemispherical,
profiled yellow-topped rim; oblique
incisions in a band under the rim and
engraved motif centrally on the underside.
6. Bowl [Fig. lj\, profiled black-topped
rim, criss-cross pattern in a band below it.
7. Small bowl [Fig. l,g), fragment, incurved
rim; brown exterior, band of engraved criss-
cross pattern under the rim.
Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007
407