DOI article:
Krzyżaniak, Lech: Kadero 1993
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.43746#0115
The objective in exploring the Neolithic middens was
primarily to collect the botanical contents. This was done in
several small pits of one square meter each, excavated in different
parts of both middens. The botanist took an active part in the
excavation of these pits, picking out from the soil all the charred
plant macro-remains and packing them accordingly for identifica-
tion in the laboratory. Most of the botanicalremains consisted of
charred lumps of wood. It is expected that their study and eventual
identification will result in better knowledge of Neolithic plant use
and ecology in this part of Sudan.
Exploration of the Neolithic burial ground continued with
the enlarging of the major pit excavated in the central part of the
site in previous seasons; a separate pit was also excavated in the
western part of the mound where a Meroitic cemetery had been
found in the initial phase of the Kadero project. Altogether, some
674 square meters of the site were excavated in search of burials
this season; it constitutes the largest surface area of the mound
explored so far in a single season. Following routine practice, the
entire surface of the mound was systematically surveyed in order
to locate remains of eroded burials. In total, 49 burials were found
this season: 42 Neolithic, 5 Meroitic and 2 Medieval ones. The
Medieval and Meroitic inhumations were either devoid of furnish-
ings or had just a few insignificant belongings. Three of the
Neolithic graves were found outside the pits, on the eroded surface
of the mound.
The 39 Neolithic graves excavated in the large pit situated
in the central part of the mound manifest characteristics somewhat
different from the local burial ground explored prior to this season.
While the inhumations devoid of furnishings remained frequent, no
rich graves of members of the social elite were found this season;
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primarily to collect the botanical contents. This was done in
several small pits of one square meter each, excavated in different
parts of both middens. The botanist took an active part in the
excavation of these pits, picking out from the soil all the charred
plant macro-remains and packing them accordingly for identifica-
tion in the laboratory. Most of the botanicalremains consisted of
charred lumps of wood. It is expected that their study and eventual
identification will result in better knowledge of Neolithic plant use
and ecology in this part of Sudan.
Exploration of the Neolithic burial ground continued with
the enlarging of the major pit excavated in the central part of the
site in previous seasons; a separate pit was also excavated in the
western part of the mound where a Meroitic cemetery had been
found in the initial phase of the Kadero project. Altogether, some
674 square meters of the site were excavated in search of burials
this season; it constitutes the largest surface area of the mound
explored so far in a single season. Following routine practice, the
entire surface of the mound was systematically surveyed in order
to locate remains of eroded burials. In total, 49 burials were found
this season: 42 Neolithic, 5 Meroitic and 2 Medieval ones. The
Medieval and Meroitic inhumations were either devoid of furnish-
ings or had just a few insignificant belongings. Three of the
Neolithic graves were found outside the pits, on the eroded surface
of the mound.
The 39 Neolithic graves excavated in the large pit situated
in the central part of the mound manifest characteristics somewhat
different from the local burial ground explored prior to this season.
While the inhumations devoid of furnishings remained frequent, no
rich graves of members of the social elite were found this season;
113