DOI Artikel:
Godlewski, Włodzimierz: The old Dongola fortifications
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26389#0078
numerous shattered column drum fragments, capitals and bases. Only the exterior face
of the wall was laid in straight courses. The mentioned granite foundation structure
obviously served as the foundation or lower part of a spacious tower which must have
once stood upon the rocky eminence, doubtless forming part of the fortification system
mentioned earlier. The entire assemblage of architectural decoration fragments
recovered from the relics of the granite foundation structure appears to be homogenous
as far as material is concerned as well as in style and chronology. One may easily
conclude that they all originated from some monumental building which underwent a
violent and presumably intentional destruction. Considering the evidence of church
building in Dongola presently available, one may suppose that the architectural granite
fragments came from a basilica destroyed by Arab troops during their raid on Dongola
in 652 A.D..' This may have been the Church of Stone Pavement I.* 5
In the eastern part of the excavated sector, where surface relics of mudbrick
walls were at first considered as post-Christian, investigations reached bedrock,
revealing structures belonging to four different stages in the construction of city
fortifications. The limited area covered by the excavations precludes as yet a detailed
characteristic of particular levels.
Undoubtedly the oldest structure is a massive tower which must have constituted
a corner of the extensive fortification system of Dongola. Only the western fac.ade of
this structure has been cleared so far and even that not along its entire length, so not
much may be said of its plan. It would appear that the tower was an elongated structure
with a rounded northern end which projected well beyond the line of the walls. It
cannot be excluded that it had once been part of a gateway. The tower was founded on
bedrock. Mudbrick was used to construct the core, the exterior was faced with large
irregular stone blocks with smaller rock chips filling the spaces in between. The tower
* W. Godlewski, The Cruciform Church site in Old Dongola.
Sequence of buildings from the 6" to the 18" century, Nubica
I/11, 1990, pp. 523-24.
5 ibidem, pp. 519-523.
76
of the wall was laid in straight courses. The mentioned granite foundation structure
obviously served as the foundation or lower part of a spacious tower which must have
once stood upon the rocky eminence, doubtless forming part of the fortification system
mentioned earlier. The entire assemblage of architectural decoration fragments
recovered from the relics of the granite foundation structure appears to be homogenous
as far as material is concerned as well as in style and chronology. One may easily
conclude that they all originated from some monumental building which underwent a
violent and presumably intentional destruction. Considering the evidence of church
building in Dongola presently available, one may suppose that the architectural granite
fragments came from a basilica destroyed by Arab troops during their raid on Dongola
in 652 A.D..' This may have been the Church of Stone Pavement I.* 5
In the eastern part of the excavated sector, where surface relics of mudbrick
walls were at first considered as post-Christian, investigations reached bedrock,
revealing structures belonging to four different stages in the construction of city
fortifications. The limited area covered by the excavations precludes as yet a detailed
characteristic of particular levels.
Undoubtedly the oldest structure is a massive tower which must have constituted
a corner of the extensive fortification system of Dongola. Only the western fac.ade of
this structure has been cleared so far and even that not along its entire length, so not
much may be said of its plan. It would appear that the tower was an elongated structure
with a rounded northern end which projected well beyond the line of the walls. It
cannot be excluded that it had once been part of a gateway. The tower was founded on
bedrock. Mudbrick was used to construct the core, the exterior was faced with large
irregular stone blocks with smaller rock chips filling the spaces in between. The tower
* W. Godlewski, The Cruciform Church site in Old Dongola.
Sequence of buildings from the 6" to the 18" century, Nubica
I/11, 1990, pp. 523-24.
5 ibidem, pp. 519-523.
76