Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean (19.2007(2010))

FOURTH CATARACT — EL-SADDA

SUDAN

humerus and radius, all from the left side
of the skeleton. Also recorded was the pelvis,
femur, tibia, talus and two calcaneus bones.
The pelvis bone was from the right side of the
skeleton and the calcaneous bones were both
left and right. Interestingly, in both cases there
is a consistency in the deposition pattern with
the remains representing the left pectoral
limb and the right pelvic one.
The remains found in the southern
chamber had been placed by the feet of the
skeleton in the western part of the chamber.
The animal was identified as a goat. The
bones included ribs, half a pelvis, tibia, talus
and calcaneus bone, all from the left side of
the skeleton except for the pelvis.
The sheep from the western chamber was
an adult individual, slaughtered after the age
of 3.5 years. Osteometric analysis indicates
that it was about 68 cm high at the withers
(Driesch, Boessneck 1974) [Table 3}. The
animal’s height and the bone measurements
correspond to results for sheep remains from
other Christian sites in Nubia (Osypihska
2004). A comparative analysis identified the

species as most probably a thin-tailed sheep of
the Sudan Desert group (Epstein 1971),
domesticated in antiquity and still living in
the region of northern Sudan today. This
particular variety is often hornless, has
dropping ears, an arched nose and long
hanging tail. The wool of these animals is
mixed with fairly large amounts of down
which is separated from the covering hair.
The most frequent coloring is different
shades of brown through beige to white.
Goat bones found in the western chamber
came from a young individual slaughtered
before the age of 3.5 years [Table 2]. The
bones revealed evidence of quartering in the
form of cuts at the epiphysis of the radial and
femoral bones.
The bones of the sheep recorded in the
southern chamber represented an adult
individual, slaughtered after reaching an age
of 3.5 years [cf. Table 3]. A comparative
analysis of osteometric results for this and the
animal from the western chamber identified
the remains as also belonging to the Sudan
Desert thin-tailed group.

REFERENCES

Driesch, A. von den, Boessneck, J.
1974 Kritische Anmerkungen zur Widerristhohenberechnung aus Langenmasen vor und
friihgeschichtlicher Tierknochen, Saugetierkundliche Mitteilungen 22, Miinchen
Epstein, H.
1971 The Origin of the Domestic Animals of Africa, Leipzig: Africana Publication Corporation
Osypihska, M.
2004 Animal bone remains from Old Dongola. Osteological material from building B.I. on
Kom A, PAAIXV [=Reports 2003], 224-230

Polish Archaeology in the Mediterranean 19, Reports 2007

453