DOI article:
Jakobielski, Stefan: Old Dongola, 1991-1992
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.26425#0102
two-chambered kihf. The ashes from the kiln were put into the
lower cesspit which served the latrine located above. To the south
of the complex, not yet fully excavated, a kind of yard (space 3)
and a stairway (room 14 and space 14a) were recorded. These
appear to be the oldest structures in the area for a deposit of
potsherds found in the substructure of the stairs contained only
Early Christian ceramics. It is still impossible to establish the
character of this area.
The complex expanded steadily towards the north and
northeast. Five main periods of occupation can be observed,
encompassing a time span from possibly the 7* until the end of
the 13* century. Numerous rebuildings considerably changed the
plan of the compound. A characteristic feature, starting perhaps
in the Classic Christian period, are the rounded comers in this
part of the monastery. This is also apparent in the outer (obvious-
ly later) girdle wall which contains bastion-like projections.
Against the outer northeastern comer a sort of rounded reinforce-
ment of rough stones and red-brick was built.
An architectural survey along the northern enclosure wall
included measurements and a partial clearing of Building N.
This is a roughly rectangular unit measuring 17.5 x 8 m
with rooms positioned on both sides of the central corridor (la,
lb, lc) and the main entrance on the west side. (Fig. 2) It was
built entirely of mudbrick, on a thin 5 cm stratum of habitation
deposits containing Early and Classic Christian potsherds, directly
on bedrock. It is outside the monastic complex adjoining the
girdle wall. The rooms appear to be preserved in the southern and
central part of the building to their original height of about 3.5 m
^ The kiln itself was investigated in 1989.
100
lower cesspit which served the latrine located above. To the south
of the complex, not yet fully excavated, a kind of yard (space 3)
and a stairway (room 14 and space 14a) were recorded. These
appear to be the oldest structures in the area for a deposit of
potsherds found in the substructure of the stairs contained only
Early Christian ceramics. It is still impossible to establish the
character of this area.
The complex expanded steadily towards the north and
northeast. Five main periods of occupation can be observed,
encompassing a time span from possibly the 7* until the end of
the 13* century. Numerous rebuildings considerably changed the
plan of the compound. A characteristic feature, starting perhaps
in the Classic Christian period, are the rounded comers in this
part of the monastery. This is also apparent in the outer (obvious-
ly later) girdle wall which contains bastion-like projections.
Against the outer northeastern comer a sort of rounded reinforce-
ment of rough stones and red-brick was built.
An architectural survey along the northern enclosure wall
included measurements and a partial clearing of Building N.
This is a roughly rectangular unit measuring 17.5 x 8 m
with rooms positioned on both sides of the central corridor (la,
lb, lc) and the main entrance on the west side. (Fig. 2) It was
built entirely of mudbrick, on a thin 5 cm stratum of habitation
deposits containing Early and Classic Christian potsherds, directly
on bedrock. It is outside the monastic complex adjoining the
girdle wall. The rooms appear to be preserved in the southern and
central part of the building to their original height of about 3.5 m
^ The kiln itself was investigated in 1989.
100